Holy WeekIsampula

I’m not a talker on airplanes. In fact, (can’t believe I’m saying this) but masks might have been the best thing that happened to me when flying because it was so much easier to avoid the chatty Kathys. Nonetheless, as only the Lord could, I found myself on a flight to LA crammed into a window seat with a mom and a freeloader under two on her lap. The only thing worse than hearing about Karen’s girls' trip for 5 hours is having a toddler kick you and reach for your pretzels. It didn’t take long for me to realize this mom was drowning in her embarrassment and struggling to keep it all together. A subtle voice from the Spirit spoke to my heart and said, “Take an opportunity here.” iPad in hand, I started drawing random shapes on it and showing the kid. Next thing I know we’re in a full-blown game of “watch Luke draw and guess what it is” at 30,000 feet.

After we landed the mom said to me, “I don’t know what I would have done on this flight without your help. Thank you.” What started as a perfect setup for my attitude to go south, my frustrations to kick in, and my annoyance to go off the charts, became an opportunity to serve someone else. She asked me why I was heading to LA. After telling her it was for a ministry trip she smiled and said, “I prayed for God to help me on this flight. I didn’t know he’d send me a pastor.”

As I read today's reading it felt eerily similar to the season our world is in right now. Wars, rumors of wars, nation against nation, famines, etc. Yet what does Jesus say at the end of verses nine and ten? “But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. For the Good News must first be preached to all nations.” I can’t imagine how timely this word must have been for Jesus’ followers, and I think it’s just as timely for us today.

The world might be going crazy, but Jesus has overcome the world. So don’t get lost in the headlines. This is our opportunity! As we prepare for Resurrection Sunday remind yourself of the opportunity in front of you. People need to hear about Jesus, and the chaos is a setup for our opportunity. Go for it!