Ever since I moved to northern Michigan nine years ago, I've been waiting to run into someone I know from Illinois by accident... and it happened today in Mackinaw City.
The Center of the World
“Do not forget to show love to strangers. In doing so some have unsuspectingly entertained angels.” Hebrews 13.2 MPV
August 12, 2010
Ever since I moved to northern Michigan nine years ago, I’ve been waiting to run into someone I know from Illinois by accident… and it happened today in MackinawCity.
I was loading stuff into the back of the car and a voice said, “Mike? Is that you?” And there stood Russell, a pastor acquaintance of mine that I had not seen since I left Illinois. We caught up and it was good.
Wherever we are, God is sending people our way. Wherever we live, wherever we travel to, we are at the center of someone’s world. And often that someone needs to talk with us.
I once lived in rural southern Illinois, down an unpaved road, surrounded only by corn fields. Still a young man visiting from Iran found my door and we talked of Jesus.
I lived and pastored in a small town of six hundred in another part of Illinois and yet, one Thanksgiving, a young lady from Japan, a young man from Israel and another from India sat at my table. They listened politely as I offered a prayer of thanks and enjoyed a great meal. Then they questioned me carefully on the meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Wherever we are, we are at the center of someone’s world. There are people that God has lined up, ready to come into our lives. They come needing help and sometimes, bearing the help we need. Let’s open our eyes and see the wonder of the Providence of God.
