So I met with Daniel. Turns out we have a lot in common, our wives even have similar personalities. He is a really nice guy too. Most our private conversation was him asking me questions about the church and then me rambling on for long periods in an attempt to answer him.The thing that is fun about Zoka is that no conversation is truly private. After a few minutes of talking about my call to plant a church, the guy next to us turns and asks, "Are you guys pastors?"
His name is Jamie and he pastors a church just blocks from Zoka. So after chatting with him for a little about some Seattle church stuff, he leaves. Before he can even get his stuff off the table a young lady to quickly claim his seat. Another thing about Zoka: if you come at the wrong time, you either A: Share a table with a stranger or B: leave.
So we engaged in conversation with her about the art of table hopping at Zoka. As the snow began to fall we found ourselves talking in a three table conversation about snow in Seattle. Now don't even ask me how this happened, but before we know it, the professional table hopper starts talking very freely about her ex-boyfriend, their breakup and her process of regaining self esteem. So we never got back to church planting.
The entire time this girl is talking, I keep thinking in my head, "your a pastor, say something spiritual! Take advantage of the door she opened up." Only minutes before I was listening to a message about taking advantage of divine appointments. Well, I didn't. I had nothing. When the gun went off I was stuck in the blocks, as if some big fat jerk glued my track shoes to them.
Not sure what I should have done, but I know I left wishing I had done something. Anything. I guess I did listen. That's something.
2 comments:
Thanks for the great meeting!
Yeah, I was stuck too. I was thinking the exact thing, even asking the Spirit for...anything. Seriously, I could think of nothing at all, then it was over. Hope this doesn't sound fatalistic or self-justifying, but maybe we did what we were supposed to do. What will happen tomorrow, next week, next year? Did she maybe say something that started making herself think? In God's eyes, maybe providing the service of taking her seriously and listening to her was a genuine gift. I don't know.
Maybe God opened a window for you both to drive by often at dusk and peer into her life through prayer?
Then again you both should have stood on your chair, broke into the 4 spiritual laws, passed out tracks to every caffeine consuming sinner, asked for a show of hands, and "prayed the prayer"?
You both ought to be ashamed of yourselves...or not.
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