Missed Opportunities

Missed Opportunities

The Lord looks at the heart. 1 Sam 16:17

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1 Samuel 16:4-13 (New International Version)
4 Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?"
5 Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD."
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the LORD chosen this one." 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these." 11 So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives."
12 So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."
13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.

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I had parked my car a block away from a new home where I was visiting a
brand new family. The home looked the same as others on the street of this town.
However, in this home was a group of adults who had taken residency together
so they could receive the level of support they needed as they became
acclimatized to living in a free community.

As I approached the house from the other side of the street, I heard the side door of
the home slam shut and a woman about 45 years old shouted a few obscenities
and then stormed across the street and began to approach me.

Now was my opportunity to embrace her and to win her over in a chance meeting.
(I sometimes have those moments when I think I am invincible.) As I approached
her, I stopped her and asked if that was the home sponsored by Christian Horizons.
She made it very clear that this was indeed true.

I then mentioned that I was just on my way over there to have supper with
everyone. Without a moment’s hesitation, she informed me that the food could be
described with a single four letter word and that she was having none of it.
She continued on her way to the local bar and I crossed the street to
meet the rest of my new friends.

This woman had a very difficult life. She had been bombarded with cursing and
anger. She had managed to fit into her surroundings in order to survive. She thought
that this was the only way to act. What I witnessed wasn’t so much the anger of a
woman as it was the normal outpouring of reactions and language she had been
taught. People had been placed in this person’s life from the earliest days who had
verbally and physically abused her. She was not valued, yet she was stubborn
enough to fight back any way she could to get her own space.

I wish I could say that things worked out for this woman and that within a year of
being welcomed into our home she was a new person. I honestly don’t know.
What I do know is that the staff I met that day had already grown to love her and they
were determined to do all they could to help her to be all that God intended her to be.

I wonder who is considered least in your life today. Who is that person you would
prefer to avoid? Maybe it is time to look to God so that the person can be seen
through the eyes of Christ. God help us to be all that we should be, so that others
can be all that You desire them to be. May we be channels of Your love.

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Heavenly Father, I find it a lot easier to embrace individuals who are very different
from me, now that I am coming to understand the diversity of experience and
resources that each person possesses. Help me to accept people as they are.
Help me to be an example of what will be helpful for others to follow.
Help me to encourage and assist others to be all that they can be. Amen.

-Noel Churchman

Noel was the Executive Director of Christian Horizons form 1976 to 2001. The devotionals we will be using are from a book he wrote in 2005 called “Walking with God”. Noel’s reflections are grounded in his experiences as an educator, and provider of supports for individuals with exceptional needs as well as his life as a dedicated follower of Christ.