Journeying with Jesus

We must carry Jesus in our hearts to wherever He wants to go, and there are many places to which He may never go unless we take Him to them. ~ Caryll Houselander

Today an interesting event happened at work. A colleague was coming to meet with me and some other people needed to meet with him but no interpreter was available. I volunteered to interpret their meeting prior to mine. Later in the day, after the meetings, one of my colleagues stopped by looking for someone else and she looked at me, and said, “Stand up. I need to give you a hug. You are one of the kindest, most generous people I know.” It caught me totally off guard. I did not really think what I had done was that special.

I think that is how it is with Jesus. He just shows up sometimes, when we least expect it, and does not make much fanfare. He has the potential to change lives through us. He has the ability to change our own lives if we pay attention.

I have a neighbour who has some issues. I am not quite sure what they are but he is not super friendly towards me. When I left the house today, I turned and locked the door. Then I listened, wondering what that sound was I was hearing. I looked up—no, not rain. Hmmm…..it sounds like water. I could not figure it out. I went around towards the back where my car is and then I saw the source. My neighbour’s outdoor tap was on full blast. He must have opened it in the fall after the freeze. Today was a glorious day, with temperatures above zero.

I was wearing only shoes and I could see that the water had been running for some time. I envisioned a flooded basement so I jumped into the snow bank between the houses and turned off the tap. Then I went to work. Then I realized that if the basement was flooded, my neighbour might not find it because he did not know that the tap had been on. When I got home, I knocked on his door. He was surprised to see me. I simply told him what I had done and turned and walked away after he said thank you. It was actually a good exchange. Despite saying he is not friendly towards me, we have had a couple of decent things happen between us. He helped me one day when I was frustrated by my bike stand.

Anyway, this day sort of taught me that if I carry Jesus in my heart with me throughout the day, special things can happen, even in the most ordinary exchanges.