It was Ann Landers who reminded us,"Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don't recognize them." While we are faced with opportunities all day long, how many do we actually 'act upon'? Truth be told, we probably overlook, or miss more than we know we do take some action toward engaging in. We are just not 'tuned into' them as we should be - making it quite easy to overlook them. The moment someone needed that touch of assurance, we were distracted and let it go by. That time a tear was about to escape the corner of a friend's eye, contemplating the loss of a member of their family, and you just were oblivious to their internal pain. We've all been there - seeing, but not really seeing! It is indeed hard work to seize every opportunity - acting upon what we see can even be a little bit uncomfortable for us, or a little awkward at times - but if we don't, who will?
So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that might otherwise seem less important. This makes for happiness among the parts, so that the parts have the same care for each other that they do for themselves. If one part suffers, all parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. Now here is what I am trying to say: All of you together are the one body of Christ, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. (I Corinthians 12:24-27)
So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that might otherwise seem less important. This makes for happiness among the parts, so that the parts have the same care for each other that they do for themselves. If one part suffers, all parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. Now here is what I am trying to say: All of you together are the one body of Christ, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. (I Corinthians 12:24-27)
Don't neglect the 'parts' God has placed right there in your path - you never know if you will get another opportunity to engage with them again! I will be the first to admit that 'tuning in' is hard work. It requires we stop what we are doing long enough to notice things around us. I see the tiny weeds beginning to take over the garden not so much when they are still just one or two leaved sprigs, but when they converge upon the things I have actually planted there! The small stuff can escape our view for a long, long time, but know this - small stuff grows into bigger stuff! Take care of things while they are small and it might just prevent a whole lot of 'bigger work' in the long run!
The Christian group For King and Country sings a song I really love. The song is "God only knows". If you know the lyrics, you might just have a window into my soul right now! The words? Well, let them minister to you as they do to me each time I hear them:
Wide awake while the world is sound asleepin'
Too afraid of what might show up while you're dreamin'
Nobody, nobody, nobody sees you
Nobody, nobody would believe you
Every day you try to pick up all the pieces
All the memories, they somehow never leave you
Nobody, nobody, nobody sees you
Nobody, nobody would believe you
God only knows what you've been through
God only knows what they say about you
God only knows how it's killing you
But there's a kind of love that God only knows
God only knows ---- but I think those who know God well also know! There is an ability to connect with his heart and then to reach others with the very thing someone who is hurting needs. God knows the opportunities ---- we need to trust him to lead us well in those moments when they reveal themselves. To become his hands and feet in a world where opportunities to express his love abound. Just sayin!
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