Isaiah 6:8 – Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" (NIV)

My daily walks include meeting people, and so it was one day, that I asked a lady if I could sit on the other side of an outdoor table at a cafe. After a brief silence, we engaged in conversation about how lovely the day was. We found more to share about, as if we were old friends meeting after a long time.

Before long, our conversation entered into church life and what it meant. My new friend shared that she was new in town with no church home, but she was looking around. I thought that I would suggest some for her to consider, as some people like to shop around. In the coming days, she was in my prayers, never thinking that I might meet her again.

Weeks went by, and I went for my daily walk, stopping at the same cafe. After asking for permission, I sat down at the same table, and to my big surprise, my new friend was sitting at the other side of the table!

We joyfully greeted each other, laughing at the situation. She quickly said that she was now going to a church, and it was because I had said something to get her acting. Just talking to me gave her the last encouragement that she needed. She was also volunteering for the youth mission and would soon have a meeting about that.

I was delighted to listen to her and to watch her joy about finding a church home and an opportunity to serve. She told me that she will now tell others how just listening to an old person can be such a transforming moment, turning things full circle, like night to day.

It has been my custom to ask the Lord to guide me to meet the next soul for whom I can be a messenger for Him, and I enjoy being one. No matter how clumsy I might be, the Lord turns my Finnish accent into a blessing, and I thank Him for that! My new friend was living proof of my purpose being fulfilled as a mentor to the young. And she will be a blessing to others. More than that, it blessed me that someone was looking to find a church home instead walking out on one.

I thank God for my daily walks that have filled my life with purpose and meaning. My prayer is that the Lord will complete the good work that He has begun in the lives that I meet in the park or at the cafe or the street corner, and that each one will become strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah answered, "Here am I. Send me!" when he heard the call, "Who will go for us?" May each of us also be prepared to respond in like manner if, today, we, too, hear the call of the Master.

Prayer: Living Lord and God, thank You for the blessed, heartwarming moments when we can be Spirit-filled messengers of Yours, even in old age, as mentors of the young. May we have many missions to accomplish for You as You work in the lives of those who receive our messages. Help us to be strong in the grace that is in You. Glory to the name of Jesus! Amen.

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About the author:

Kirsti Sipila <kirstiksipila@hotmail.com>
Brantford, Ontario, Canada
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