I love sports. So it only makes sense that God would use a sports tie-in to get me to slow down a little and do some introspection.
I was on a plane headed out to attend The Masters golf classic in the spring of 2009. One of our insurance providers had given my business partner and me some free passes and a free mansion to stay in for being top producers. "Hard work and success sure has its privileges!" I was secretly saying to myself. (Yea, I was a little proud of the moment.)
Normally when I get on a plane I try and chill or stay busy reading, listening to my Ipod or even working via my Iphone, but lately, I have found myself at least attempting to engage conversation with those seated near me. It has lead to some interesting meetings. The kind when you get off the plane you think to yourself, “I will never see him/her ever again in my life more than likely, but that was cool.” They go on their merry way with their own to-do lists and personal objections, while you head out to do yours.
So goes life.
On this particular flight however, God led me to a really neat man in his early 50s. I quickly learned he was a Christian and we instantly had a great connection. Turned out he was a former pastor who had entered the business banking world. Evidently work as a pastor nearly drove him into the grave. He loved the Lord, but his workaholic nature nearly cost him everything he loved outside of the church. Through some prompting, God called him to retire from fulltime ministry and moved him into the business world. As a result his business experience has led him back to help churches financially. Now he gets to reach out to those in the business world as well as those back in the church arena.
I chuckled when he told me that and said, “that’s how God does it!’
After sharing with him some of my similar thoughts and experiences in business and in ministry, he strongly urged me to a read a book called “Halftime” by Robert Buford. I am a big reader so I told him I would look it up especially after he told me some about its premise.
A little while later, we exchanged cards, shook hands and our lives parted ways. I tell myself I am going to email him one day, but something tells me that the only transaction God had in store that day was for me to read that book.
Not more than a few weeks later I did just that and it changed my life and my perspective forever.
I will be turning 40 in just a few months and my mind has already been working on me about it. People say that whoever you are going to be and whatever legacy you leave behind is established between the ages of 40-50. I have been thinking about the things behind me now and the things ahead. The future looks bright but I sure don't want to screw things up.
God is good. A simple book recommend by a simple man sitting next to me has given me some great insight into all God wants from me. The funny thing is, all God asked me to do was be nice to the guy next door.
All just a reminder, that God still works in ways we tend to overlook. Keep an eye out. He just might use the person next to you.
“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2
© 2009, J. Brady
”I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
FOR MORE ABOUT HALFTIME: http://www.halftime.org/
