Black Friday Thoughts

Last night was my first ever Black Friday experience.  I went to Buffalo, Missouri to help a friend and her mom collect up on the best black friday deals the second smallest Wal-Mart in the country has to offer.  We were probably 10 feet out from the door when the doors opened up, and the mad-dash started.  And as I awaited that moment in all the movies where two people grab the very last item, and a fight ensues to my surprise there was no fight, and to be honest the mad-dash wasn't even all that crazy.  I headed to the Auto Care section, grabbed my ticket for a laptop that was on sale and at 8:30pm I sat down in a little corner (by myself for a good five minutes) to wait till the clock struck midnight.  Within 10-15 minutes several people had joined me, and took their seats in line.

For the next three and a half hours I learned the lives of total strangers.  But it wasn't until this morning where I realized despite almost four hours of casual conversation with these people, not once did I bring up my faith.  I've been asked throughout my life as a Christian if people I knew were aware that I was a Christian.  For the most part the answer is yes. My friends know, my family knows, and most of the people in my classes know.  So why is it that last night when every conversation was revolved around Christmas not a single person in that line knew?  I'm unsure of the answer to that to be honest.  I enjoyed getting to know these people, and where I will probably never see them again I wish them the best in life.  However part of me wonders what God could have used me for if I had done more than just listen to their conversations.  

I guess it was just a reality check for me...God can only use us to build His kingdom if we let Him.  Maybe last night He didn't need me in that moment which is why He didn't lay it on my heart then, but this morning He is reminding me that He might have needed me, and that next time I need to be prepared to open up and talk about my faith even if it is in a Wal-Mart aisle with complete strangers.

Perhaps this was His way of making me rethink that question..."Is everyone I know aware that I'm a Christian?"  Perhaps this is His reminder that everyone means the people you meet day to day even if you never expect to see them again.