Perspective on Being Left

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Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. I Peter 3:15

It was our day in Nassau. The ship had come into port, and all morning a steady stream of people poured off the boat for a day of frolicking in the tropical paradise.

I was brushing my teeth when Marty, who had opted to stay behind, informed me that the kids and grandkids had texted they were ready to leave, and was I coming? I just had to get my shoes on and grab my purse.

“Tell them I’ll be there in five minutes,” I said.

“It’s going to take you five minutes to get down there.”

“OK, six minutes …”

“Too late, they’ve left.”

I admit, my immediate reaction was, What the –?!

I tried to resist the urge to sulk. Considering where I was, a pity party would definitely be out of place.

As I stepped off the ship into the sunshine of a perfect day, “divine perspective” reminded me that everything happens for a God-ordained reason, and I willfully rejected the demon of self-pity. I might sometimes appear to be “alone,” but I have Jesus, so I’m never really alone. Alone with Him is quite a different thing. – Today He wanted me all to Himself!

I wasn’t abandoned. I was on assignment!

A young couple stood on the dock in front of the ship, taking pictures of each other.

“Would you like a picture of both of you?” I asked.

“Oh, would you?! That’d be great!” The man handed me his phone. I took a few of the smiling pair, handed back the phone, and saw them looking at the pictures, beaming their approval.

Well, this is fun, I thought.

Before I reached the end of the long dock, I’d repeated the photo scenario with a few other couples and one family. I hoped the people noticed my pendant with the word “Jesus” in the shape of a cross, but I had a feeling I could do more to represent Him that day besides wearing a piece of jewelry and “being nice.”

Beyond the docks was a cluster of colorful shops, some more like booths at an art fair. I browsed and took in the diversity of faces, accents, and styles. I met a lady sitting at a table outside, petted her friendly dog, and entered the little shop that was there.

I found a t-shirt I knew Marty would like, and as the shop owner was ringing it up, I looked at the jewelry in the glass case. My eyes were drawn to the crosses there. A nudge from the Still, Small Voice told me this was my opening.

“You have some beautiful crosses here,” I commented. The shop owner thanked me, and I could tell from his accent that he was from India.

“Have you met Jesus?” I asked. The words were out before I’d had time to think about them. The man looked a little taken aback.

“No …” he said. “I’ve never met Jesus. I’m Hindu. But I have been in a …” He searched for the word.

“A church?” I asked.

“Yes! A church.”

“So … did they explain the gospel to you?”

“No,” he answered, looking at me intently.

Vaguely aware that we were the only people in the store and not knowing how much time I had, I quickly prayed for the words to sum up the “Good News” as clearly yet briefly as possible.

“We believe one God created everything, including us. We’re made in His image … but we don’t act like Him. We do bad things, selfish things. We make stupid mistakes. We don’t do the things we should.” He continued to make eye contact, nodding slightly.

“For a while, God’s people tried to atone for their sins by making sacrifices – killing a cow, a lamb, whatever. But as soon as the sacrifice was made, they’d blow it again.

“Finally, God said, ‘I’ll send my Son to atone for them, once and for all.’ Sin has to be paid for, and God loved us so much, He sent His Son to be our sacrifice!”

At that moment, the woman I had met outside stepped into the store and asked the man a question in their language. He looked away, and I thought that was the end of my witness. I prayed what I had said would be enough.

Surprisingly, the man answered her in one syllable, and she went back outside. His eyes came back to me with that intent look, as he waited for me to finish the story.

“So, God’s Son – Jesus – came and lived the perfect life we could never live. He was executed in our place. He took the death we deserved, then rose from the dead! If we believe in Him, then His death pays for our sins, and we can be raised up, too – and live with Him forever!

“… Does that make sense?”

As I waited to see if the man needed any more explanation, he looked pensive, then answered, “Yes. It does.”

I know some would follow up with, “Would you like to pray right now to repent of your sins and receive Jesus as your personal Savior?!” But that didn’t seem appropriate at the moment. I just said, “I hope you will think about this,” and he said he would. I could tell he was already thinking about it.

I don’t have a scorecard of people I have led to faith in Christ. Most often, as happened here, my witness consists of “planting seeds,” many of which I never get to see grow into a spiritual harvest. But that’s where faith comes in. I have to believe that God was speaking to that man before I ever stepped into his shop, and that He is continuing to speak to him. I trust that someday in heaven he will be telling me everything that happened after our brief encounter.

Meanwhile, I think of Mahesh and say a prayer for him. Maybe you’ll say one, too.

Father, thank You for the privilege of being a part of Your glorious mission, to reach every living soul on this earth. Thanks for making us Your ambassadors, especially in those unexpected opportunities that You drop into our day. Help us always to be ready to let You speak through us, giving You all the glory, in Jesus’ name, amen.

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Published by seekingdivineperspective

I am a forgiven sinner and adopted child of God, seeking to see life from His perspective - as opposed to the world's flawed perspective - and living my life accordingly.

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29 thoughts on “Perspective on Being Left”

  1. That was a divine appointment if I ever saw one! The devil tried to stop it, but he couldn’t because you were determined to obey God and walk in His ways (no self-pity allowed). God bless you, Annie! Thank you for sharing this story.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Cindy. You may have read my piece about taking a “sabbatical” from blogging – that is, not spending 3-4 hours a day reading and commenting on other people’s blogs, and only posting my own pieces when I’m especially inspired, or when a post from the distant past seems worth repeating. But so far He hasn’t stopped inspiring me. 🤷😊

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    2. Thanks, Cindy. It has been a good time. I finished recording “Sparrows” last week and just have to listen to it and do any editing/rerecording before submitting it to Audible. So, one goal has almost been reached! Blessings to you in all you do, too, sister.

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  5. Loved how you used this opportunity you got. I really like what you said ‘I was not abandoned, I was appointed’. That shift in perspective is something I need to learn to have.

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  10. LOL! I had to chuckle at, “Considering where I was, a pity party would definitely be out of place.” Right?! You are in a tropical paradise and the sun is shining! A proper pity party should only take place deep in the foggy moors somewhere with a light drizzle and a bitterly cold wind.

    I was amused by your line because the Lord once taught me about the existence of a “false mood,” that is how our feelings do not always reflect our environment, our circumstances, our true selves, or our mission.

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    1. “False mood.” Interesting term! I guess even in the cold and drizzle and whatever other negative circumstance tries to affect our mood, considering the Romans 8:28 factor, ANY negative emotion is a “false mood” for a Christ-follower… with the exception of conviction, in which case we need to repent, grieve, and get forgiveness. Then all is well again. 😉

      Thanks for stopping by, Gabrielle. It’s always good to hear from you.

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  11. Hi Annie, hope your recovery is going well. As I, too, prayed for Mahesh, I got a sense that he now has a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ and is using his platform (his shop) to tell the same story to others. I hope so anyway. Blessings!

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  14. Thanks, Nancy. It’s taken me years, but I’ve learned that (1.) I can throw a pity party, but probably no one will come, and (2.) if I wait to see what the Lord is up to, it usually turns out to be a lot better than wasting a day sulking.

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