Finding Faith
The other day I stopped by our tax guy’s office, and not surprisingly a Bible study discussion broke out.
This isn’t the opening line to a bad joke I’m workshopping for my comedic standup routine. It’s God’s honest truth, as the saying goes.
It’s common that he and I mix in a healthy discussion regarding the gospel while we conduct business. It’s not the only reason that I’ve stuck with him for about 15 years, but it’s one of my favorite ones!
Ironically, his faith principles were never a concern of mine when I first walked into his office a decade and a half ago. At the time, I was just looking for an independent tax pro who provided a little more personal interaction than the big corporate tax companies.
Then about a decade ago, when my seminary journey started, he was overjoyed for me. Our tax meetings grew longer as more and more we talked about faith, Jesus and spreading the gospel. Needless to say, he was a big supporter of my new call.
More recently, when I accepted the position at our organization that runs an emergency shelter, food pantry and supportive housing, he applauded the move. He shared that he believed that it was work that was the epitome of carrying out the gospel.
All these years later, while we don’t meet often, and when we do it’s mostly for business, I am grateful for his friendship and his ardent faithfulness that inspires me.
What’s my point? … Well, maybe that we can find rewarding and supportive, faith-inspired relationships just about anywhere if we open our hearts, minds and ears.
In my experience, a good many faithful people unfortunately confine their faith lives to an hour on Sunday mornings, and possibly another on Wednesday nights. They leave their faith behind when they cross the threshold of their faith community on their way out.
After all, the secular world out there is no place to celebrate your faith! … What would people think! Right?
Well, in my experience, when you’re open about your own faith with others, the defenses drop quickly. And then people are more willing to share about their faith.
I don’t care if this is in your work life, recreational life, academic life or other aspects, if you look for and are open to listening, I think you’ll observe that there are quite a few folks willing to discuss faith with you if you’re genuinely interested.
Your faith homework for the week, my friends, is to stretch your faith-related comfort zone. Take a risk by trying to have a conversation about faith with someone whom you are not familiar with, and see where it goes!
You might just find that someone you do business with is an awesome Bible study buddy! Amen.
