Thank God for arachnophobia.
You will nite from time to time I use the term,’my friend’. It’s worth me pointing out, these incidents don’t happen to the same person. I do have more than one friend. Honest. They may not know it or even agree to it, but that’s not my problem.
In any case, my friend is scared stiff of spiders. Their presence truly puts a fear in her that is amazing were it not so irrational. Anyway, one day, whilst she was minding her own business in the comfort and privacy of her own home, she came across a spider. Such was her shock that she shrieked and ran out of her home, slamming the door shut behind her … only realising after a few moments when she could breathe without hyperventilating that she had locked herself out.
Bummer.
Understandably she was hugely put out by this turn of events.
All because of that spider!
As she recovered her senses she reached out to a handyman she knew, who happened to be a brother in the church. You know, one of those weird type of brothers who rarely contribute to the formal setting. He doesn’t preach or teach, he’s rarely asked to pray. He’s one of those freaks you see in attendance and you pleasantly greet, but nothing more than that. Which is a pity, because as you can possibly imagine, if you take the time to engage in meaningful conversation you discover …
Well, thankfully my friend had a higher opinion of him than just another seat warmer. It had been a while, though, since they last conversed. When the brother had regained access to the home of my friend, he accepted the hospitality of my friend and over the beverage of their choice, they had a refreshing conversation. (I’m sure it didn’t involve coffee or tea, good beverages only.)
Funny enough one area they touched on was the importance of being prepared. Funny in the sense that my friend evidently chose to leave the home only discovering later how unprepared she was. (Cue: Audience laughter.)
They considered how often believers find themselves unprepared for opportunities. They’re unprepared because it’s not a part of their lifestyle to be sensitive to opportunities to be of service to God. A friend might need prayer, but we’re unprepared. Someone might need help, but we don’t know how to respond because we’re unprepared.
This in contrast to a lifestyle of prayer and seeking God’s will for the day and life. That level of preparedness that allows Daniel and his three Hebrew homies to respond to Nebuchadnezzar and his threat to wipe out his advisers if they didn’t both state his bothersome dream AND interpret it. They were prepared where others were in despair.
When Nehemiah had the opportunity to put his case to the king, he was prayerfully prepared to share his heartache and his request. Five virgins in a Jesus parable knew to bring extra oil for their lamps, just in case.
It was a superbly edifying insight from the handyman the church forgot. But my friend did not forget. And from a desperate situation where she was frantic about getting back in her home, now she was enjoying godly insights that had far more to do with being alert for Kingdom opportunities than keeping her home keys close to her if an arachnid were to spook her.
All because of that spider!
Thank God for arachnophobia.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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