Since entering the workforce, I’ve found it harder to find opportunities to preach. This is probably a common feeling for those who have recently transitioned from student life to the working world. However, I’ve realized that the opportunities are still there – one may just need to look harder.
When I first started at my job, I was asked to join the building’s disaster/emergency evacuation team. It wasn’t something I was excited about since it was on top of all my other day-to-day job duties. The team met consistently for a period of about half a year and through it, I met some people in other departments. Another girl and I clicked, probably since we both dreaded attending those meetings. When our team went on a hiatus, we decided to schedule time every couple weeks to take breaks together and catch up. She was the one who always initiated the scheduling since I usually got wrapped up in work and would forget.
Sometimes we would meet and just sit in the shade in the courtyard and chat. In the back of my mind, I knew this was one of the few opportunities I would have to share my faith. However, I was still trying to figure out how to bring it up.
One day we were on our way to Red Mango for froyo when she asked what my plans were for the weekend. I decided that this was the opportunity and I told her I had to prepare for a church choir presentation. I asked if she was religious and observed her reaction before asking any further questions. Thankfully she responded openly instead of shutting down. She shared that she was raised in a Christian background, but when her mother was killed in a car accident when she was a child, she stopped believing in God. Or if there is a God, how could He let bad things happen to good people if He is a loving God? Her father was in such a state of depression that he couldn’t take care of her and she had to be adopted by her uncle and aunt, who raised her most of her life. I was surprised that she would trust me to tell me so much about her personal life, and I in turn shared with her some difficulties my family had been through. I shared how there are many injustices in life but it’s the belief and hope in God that has saved me many times from completely breaking down.
She asked a few more questions about why there are some Christians who use the Bible to oppress others and I tried to explain that that is not the intent of the Word, but is from the manipulation of man. Though we disagreed about certain things, it was not tense or awkward and I believe we left the conversation feeling closer to one another.
On my drive home from work that day, in my heart I felt immensely grateful. I am glad that we were able to start a dialogue about faith even if she may not be ready or willing to seek after it at this time in her life. But just having the chance to share really made me feel so joyful!