Even sharing a table in a cafe can be a blessing
My friend and I were asked if we would be willing to share a table with another lady at a busy cafe.
I always make it a policy to say something and smile to anyone I meet because otherwise later it is harder to have a story opportunity.
Soon we were chatting easily about why she and us were in Cambodia. I then asked her, “Do you know why this cafe is called ‘Jars of Clay?'”
She had no idea. Using the decorative items above her I explained that the name came from one of the Apostle Paul’s letters in the Bible (I’d guessed, correctly as it turned out, that the lady was a Roman Catholic). I then explained that Paul talks about people as ordinary clay jars. There were two jars with cut outs to allow the light to seep out. Those symbolize the fact that God has entrusted the treasure of His good news (the best thing of all) to people. He loves to choose ordinary people like those she was working with to share His messages to the world.
I then asked her if she read the Bible.
“Yes.”
“Which story is your favorite?”
“I love the Old Testament stories.”
Now it would have been logical to tell an Old Testament story but we only had 10 minutes. So I told her ‘The Thief on the Cross’ to emphasise the whole issue that we are saved not because we are good but because of Jesus’ mercy when we recognize him and also our own unworthiness of any salvation.
I just had time to let her know about this website and to say, “The set of nine stories helps us understand in much greater depth why Jesus had to die. If we have the Old Testament background it makes the New come alive.”
My friend said afterwards, “I loved watching and listening to the interaction because at all times the conversation was relaxed and natural.”
What I was trying to do was what I call ‘fly fishing.’ Gently dropping the fishing line on the surface of the water and seeing what attracts the fish and then following that conversation. That is, letting the conversation go where the listener wants it rather than forcing it.
