Hard Lesson to Learn

This weekend, we experienced a 4.7 earthquake here in lovely Southern California. Earthquakes are such a mystery to me, and a source of fear. As a child I was terrified of them, and on Sunday afternoon realized my daughter Shelby is too. But as I got older, you learn to accept them as part of the trade off of amazingly beautiful weather almost year round. But, earthquakes stir up different memories for me now:
On my very first Mission trip to Australia we went shopping one day at a local outdoor market. There were booths set up lining the walkway with vendors selling their wares. I stopped at one booth that had a lot of beaded jewelry and hair items. Robert, Mike and I got to talking to the woman whose work I was admiring. She was from Europe (I believe) but now living in Australia making jewelry. Her grown daughter was getting married soon in the US and she was planning on going and was asking us a lot about California. She was a very sweet woman and I really enjoyed talking to her. I remember asking God how I can bring Him up in the conversation; I wanted Him to show me an opening. (Mike has always told us that our trip starts as soon as we leave the church. You never know who you might be sitting next to on the plane, driving your shuttle, etc. They need Jesus too) She was admiring the jeweled clips I had in my hair, she had never seen anything like them. She then asked how we could live in California with all those earthquakes. My mind started racing, this was it wasn’t it? I can live with the fear because I know where I am going should I die. But; how to say it? Wait; was that the way to say it? I must analyze the situation, making sure not to say too much or too little. I need to think this through and say just the right thing to not scare her off… as my mind was searching for the perfect words (which seemed like hours), Mike Carman (our pastor and friend)broke the silence and said “well, we know that if the time comes for us to go, we know exactly where we are going.” Hey! Did I say that out loud? No, I didn’t, he did. She asked of course how we knew that and he began to share with her what Christ had done for her, and all of us. I added in here and there but what was stuck in my mind, didn’t make it out. We had a wonderful conversation with her, and told her when she was in California to look us up. I took the beaded clip out of my hair and gave it to her, she was so touched. I have never spoken to her again, however, 4 years later I am still praying for her.
I missed an opportunity, I allowed my brain to take over my heart and thought too much about what to say, how to say it, instead of letting the Holy Spirit lead me. He has never let me down, but I let myself down. It is one of those defining moments for me; I pray that I will not miss another opportunity. I have shared a lot since then, random people I meet, several kids on that same trip in Eidsvold, but I will not get that moment back. I thank God that Mike stepped up when I froze. I let fear take hold of me; I may not say the right thing, do the right thing, what should I do, etc. I don’t ever want to do that again.
So this earthquake was a good reminder for me, 1Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…”


Liz