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Topic: Learning for Life (08/23/04)
TITLE: Java Journey By Ann Marie Lindenmeyer 08/25/04 |
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Trying to read, she found her mind would slip away into deeper thought. She couldn't concentrate on her book and found herself delving further into her contemplating mind. She had finally accomplished her goal of finishing graduate school and landing the perfect job in the city. It had taken many years of learning to conquer her goals, but she did it. Now she wondered why she felt so lonely.
It couldn't really be the new city, she pondered. She wasn't far from family and friends living in the suburbs. She had been so consumed with school and work toward the end of graduate school that she had scarcely had time for them anyway throughout the past year. It seemed that right now everything she had dreamed of was coming true.
Later that week, she returned to the same coffee shop. She had decided that she needed some time to think because so much had happened recently with her new job and the move. This time without a book, coffee in hand, she found herself a seat at the same table.
She noticed someone had left a book on the table. Not knowing if the coffee shop owned it or someone had forgotten it, she looked quickly at it and realized that it wasn't a book, it was a Bible. She left it there and enjoyed the aroma and taste of her coffee and thought over the previous days.
In deep thought, someone caught her eye as he walked by the window. He was an attractive man and her eyes followed him to the door of the coffee shop. After entering, he didn't head toward the counter, but instead was heading straight for her table.
"Excuse me, I forgot this earlier when I was here," he quietly stated as he reached for his Bible.
All that she could say at that moment was, "Oh." She was in awe over the intensity of this man's eyes. They were soft and caring and were filled with deep compassion.
"My name is Jim, and you are...?"
"Denise, nice to meet you," she blushed.
"Hey, we're doing a Bible study series just around the corner tonight called ‘Learning for Life.' Would you be interested in coming along. I know it seems strange asking a stranger, but it's at The Faith Christian Church."
"Maybe I will," she replied.
"Well then, it starts at 6:30."
"Learning for Life, huh?" she said with a questioning tone.
"Yeah, we never are too young or old to learn more about Jesus, His way, His truths, and His life. I hope to see you there."
He left with a smile and waved as he passed by her in the window. She recalled how she never really attended church much growing up, maybe on Easter or Christmas. She felt that she had just completed enough learning for one lifetime, but something about what he said and his deep, loving eyes made her feel drawn to attend that night. Who knows what she would find out, so she thought she would give it a try.
That night she walked into a warm, loving, accepting church that changed her life. She didn't know it on that day, or that week, but in retrospect she looks back at that day in the coffee shop and knows that God planned for that Bible to be forgotten so that she could find her way to her Savior, Jesus Christ.