Life Lessons Learned in Unexpected Moments

Unforeseen teachers

^{by Rob Kerby, Senior Editor}

We don’t always learn life’s most important lessons in class or in church – or any of the other traditional venues, says Jay Lowder, author of Midnight in Aisle 7. “Through more than 20 years of evangelistic ministry, I have learned that life’s greatest mysteries are often illuminated in the most unexpected places through the most unlikely encounters at the most unforeseen times. The individuals I meet who have overcome adversity and struggles with God’s help continually amaze me. I believe we can all learn something from those around us if we only look. What follows are stories of those who have inspired me to see God’s purpose in life, love and pain, and taught me to have a new outlook.” For example, says Lowder:

Unforeseen teachers

Learning about Judgment from an Incarcerated Teen. “ When I met the young man who taught me about judgment he was on his way to serve a 25 years sentence for raping two pre-teens. Having known the effects of sexual abuse my wife experienced years before we met, my blood boiled when I heard of this teen’s crime. For a time I hated this young man, even hoping he would rot in hell. But I was ignoring my own guilt. I have never been unfaithful to my wife, but I have had lustful thoughts. I have never murdered, but I have carried hatred in my heart. My failures are no less sinful than the prisones. God offers forgiveness to all, despite the sin. It was when I let go of my judgment over him that I myself was set free.”

Unforeseen teachers

Learning Acceptance from my Homosexual Sister. “ Growing up in a Christian church, I was taught, as the Bible says, that homosexuality is wrong,” writes Lowder. “So when my sister told our family that she is gay, I lost it. Religion taught me how to push away people who were different rather than love and seek to understand them. What resulted was anger, which stemmed from pride, and my words and deeds hurt my sister greatly. It was years before I acknowledged my faults of pride and asked for her forgiveness. While I may not agree with many of her choices, I came to realize I was the one who needed to learn how to love and accept others as they are.”

Unforeseen teachers

Learning God Gives Second Chances from a Youth Minister. When the author met Tommy, a youth minister, in store aisle at midnight, he writes: “I was just coming back to a relationship with God after being away for a while. I wanted to serve God but was unsure He would provide me with another opportunity to do so, but I was hopeful when Tommy told me he would call me about speaking to his youth group. It was six long weeks before Tommy invited me to address his students. The day I arrived at the church only 15 students were in the parking lot. I was devastated and felt this was a sign I was an unusable castaway, but I soon learned the building was so full they had no more seating; the 15 I saw in the parking lot couldn’t fit in the building. That night God used me to share the Gospel to which 66 young people responded.”

Unforeseen teachers

Learning about Legacy from my Inquisitive Daughter. “My daughter is incredibly inquisitive, especially when it comes to questions about God, Jesus and Heaven. One day she innocently asked me whether another Bible would ever be written. While I explained that it would not, because our Bible is God-inspired, her questions intrigued me. When I asked her what sparked it, her answer stopped me in my tracks. She wanted to know if they were going to write another Bible, would they write it about us? Further, she was trying to determine if we live the way the people in the Bible did. In that moment I realized I was not living the life that was worthy of being spoken of, which challenged me not to accept mediocrity but to provide a biblical legacy that will last long after my passing.

Unforeseen teachers

Learning about Love from a Homeless Woman. “I used to drive the same route daily and always saw a wrinkled old lady sitting in the grass wearing several coats and a cap, smoking cigarettes, drinking out of a two-liter Dr. Pepper bottle and talking to no one in particular. One hot summer day, I picked up an extra cherry-lime drink from a restaurant and stopped to give it to the woman. After explaining she didn’t owe me anything, I struck up a conversation with her and asked her if I could pray for her to which she angrily responded, “no!” A few weeks later, on a rainy night, my wife and I stopped to check on the woman again. When we stopped, another truck pulled up beside us and a Hispanic man wearing a blue-collar company uniform got out and lovingly spoke to the woman with genuine concern. I found out he had been caring for the woman for some time. The man’s name, though pronounced differently, was spelled J-e-s-u-s, and I was reminded that though the world may have forgotten the homeless woman, she was remembered by Jesus. You never know what might happen when you become willing to love the unlovely.”

Photo credit: FEMA/ Andrea Booher

Unforeseen teachers

Learning about my God-given Purpose from a Former Roommate. There was a time in my life when I didn’t believe in God and therefore did not live a holy life. I was drunk all the time, living off unemployment and depressed constantly. It got so bad that I decided to take my own life. As I sat alone in my living room and held a gun to my head, my roommate – a new believer who was supposed to be at work – pulled into the driveway. I believe God had my roommate unexpectedly come home that day to save my life and my soul. Several weeks later I went to church and heard a sermon that brought me to my knees. I started building a real relationship with Christ and my life has never been the same.

Unforeseen teachers

Learning about Crossroads from my Father. “I grew up in Tornado Alley. One April day in 1979, my dad took action as a great twister approached. As we jumped into the car to outrun the storm, my father came to a crossroads and was faced with a decision that would determine his fate and that of his family. He chose a way to safety, and while I don’t recommend trying to run from a tornado, we later discovered the room we normally would have taken shelter in was obliterated and my father’s decision had saved our life. Much like my dad, everyone faces a crossroads that requires him to make a choice that will impact him for eternity – either you choose to accept Christ as Savior or not. Only you can make that choice so which direction will you take?”

Photo credit: FEMA/ Marilee Caliendo