This morning I had the pleasure of having coffee with a brother at a local coffee establisment. We exchanged the usual pleasantries and then moved into more of the purpose of our meeting and conversation. As the purposeful business-like portion of our conversation moved toward its conclusion we began to discuss more important matters like my friend's upcoming trip and the places he and his beloved would see on their journey.
WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN...(caps to add emphasis and drama) we were interrupted by a wonderfully excited woman who had embodied the role of the mouthpiece of declaration for the opportunity to collect FREE SWEET POTATOES. Apparently, just around the corner, behind another business establishment, a church was giving away sweet potatoes. Neither I nor my coffee companion had opportunity to pursue further information about this potential sweet potato score that I would have deemed necessary to partake in the veggie jackpot; i.e. the source of said free sugary spuds, the trip they had endured to reach their destination and the sanitation status of their mode of transport, and other less important tidbits. I had no opportunity because the bearer of the bounty had already moved to three other tables by the time I realized I wasn't on a hidden camera show and that she was serious. Not only serious, but she had apparently taken it upon herself to inform EVERYONE in the place of the opportunity they were missing because of their current business. The status of conversation mattered not to my ysm informant. Business meetings had to be interrupted, casual conversation was no match for the vigor with which the potato proclaimer conveyed her message of hope for all those who were currently lacking in sweet potato potential or possession. PEOPLE MUST HEAR THE GOOD NEWS OF FREE SWEET POTATO OPPORTUNITY THAT WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!!
I admit that in that moment this morning, my friend and I did more chuckling that considering. We were neither one in the market this morning for sweet potatoes. We weren't looking for the opportunity for sweet potatoes. I was merely amused by someone who was so wonderfully excited about the potential that someone, anyone who was willing, had the chance to enjoy free yams.
But as I consider the event, I am moved to more serious matters. My life is no better or worse because of a lack of sweet potatoes. But I am encouraged by the enthusiasm of the messenger I encountered this morning. While I am not sold on the method of communication, I cannot fault her in energy, enthusiasm, and engagement. She had a message and people needed to know. I think we as Christ followers can learn a lesson by my yam fan encounter this morning. We have information that people need to hear. People need to know of the truth of the gospel. People are sitting in contexts and circumstances unaware that God loves them and that Jesus died in their place to take the punishment for their sin. We've been given the mandate to be the one who will go and tell.
So thank you unknown person for your willingness to step into people's circumstance and share some good news of something that was freely available to them; for in that, God used you to remind me and cause me to consider again the message with which I've been entrusted. Eternally Good News, that all need to hear...
