Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Small Things to Meaningful Things

Transcript, Christian Working Woman, Wednesday, March 8, 2006

Would you like to do something eternally significant today? I'm sure every person who knows Jesus as Savior would like to be involved in some activity that is truly important. But you're probably thinking, "I can't do anything eternally significant today. I have to go to work and type or talk to customers and all kinds of mundane, insignificant things."

It's true: most of our lives consist of a series of small, seemingly insignificant chores and duties. But remember, eternally significant doesn't mean glorious or grand. It doesn't always include Bible verses or sermons or church music.

Here is an example of how you can turn small things into meaningful things. You will probably talk to a telephone operator or receptionist sometime during your workday today or tomorrow. Do you know that people in these jobs are often treated like machines? We hardly ever think of them as people, with problems and worries and stress. They're just voices on the other end of the phone.

So, today when you talk with that telephone operator that you normally ignore, put a smile in your voice and give her or him a cheery greeting. Be polite and kind, even if you're put on hold. If you have a moment, ask them how the day is going for them.

You probably won't have the time or opportunity to quote John 3:16, but you'll have time to send a little sparkle of Jesus' love through your voice on the telephone. Then that totally mundane interaction becomes eternally significant.

Not long ago I was buying something in a store, and the clerk wasn't being very helpful. That irritated me, so I gave her my "I wish you had better customer service skills" look, and walked off. As I did, the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit said, "You blew it. You had an opportunity to show that person what Jesus is like, and instead you showed her what you're like. You missed a chance to do something significant, and you'll never have that chance with that person again."

You see, I could have smiled at that clerk, been especially kind, maybe even struck up a small conversation and asked how she was doing. Then when I walked away, that clerk would have thought, "Wow, that woman is different. Wonder why?" Instead, if she thought anything, it was probably "Customers are nothing but trouble."

Look for your opportunities today to turn mundane interactions into eternally significant happenings, as you show people what Jesus is like by the way you treat them.

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