Every time something like that happened, every time I chided myself for not carrying an evangelistic tract – any gospel tract with me everywhere I go!!

This afternoon, the topic of the conversation even made me seriously consider whether I should offer the gentleman my compact Bible (it costs $30 or so)!

Anyway, the story goes like this:

Lately, I’ve been thinking that my brain needs a bit more workout. Just because it seems that I can’t memorise things as well as I could in the past.

One of the things I decided to help me in my effort to do that is memorising big chunks of the Bible – as I think the benefit would be more than just a brain workout.

I know I can do it, since I did it in the past. Once, as part of a Unichurch challenge (when it was either Phillip Jensen or Phil Wheeler’s time), I actually managed to memorise Exodus 20:1-17 (or maybe until v.20) – word for word!

So I know I can actually do it. And I’d been doing it from time to time. Just not recently. Anyway, I started again last weekend, though with shorter passages. And not a passage every day.

Came across Psalm 101 this morning and decided I’d memorise that one! – of course keeping in mind that is a Psalm of David.

And so that was what I was doing at Darling Harbour during lunch time today (with PDJ being away from CBS) – memorising Psalm 101!

I know I was taking a risk by memorising the Bible in such an open space like that and that someone might actually approach me for a conversation.

Being a sinful human being, I actually had to pray before I started that I would not be unfriendly should someone really decide to interrupt my “memorising session” and want to have a chat with me.

So when an old gentleman passing by asked me whether I was memorising Bible or dictionary, I quickly prayed and asked for God’s help for a heart to chat. (I usually prefer a quiet / alone lunch time being a receptionist and all).

Told myself that if I turn down people who want to have a chat about what I was doing, then it is really a sad thing and beating the whole purpose of memorising Bible passages! I’m really glad God answered my prayer and worked in my heart!

So had a chat about different religions, about making crosses when you pray, about reading and interpreting the Bible, about having church people as my family here, about Jesus (and who He is), about importance of relationship with Jesus above all else and of eternity above life we can have here. And all this in 10-15 mins or so. Amazing what you can chat with someone within that timeframe, eh? =)

I’ve learned and was reminded of a few more things today – things that would be helpful in carrying out a conversation with strangers – like trying to redirect the conversation to Jesus, to the Bible, making it personal (what do you think, do you read the Bible, etc etc). There is still much to be improved! I think I need to think of better way of bringing up topic of Jesus as Lord and Saviour and His death and resurrection, His sufficiency, and maybe the idea of church as family of God in this year of connect and also introducing people to St Andrew’s Cathedral… Hmmm…

Anyway, main lesson learnt: I need to carry a copy of Essential Jesus with me next time I decide to memorise my Bible during lunch time at Darling Harbour again! =)

Do you believe in divine providence?

I do!

Well, I usually do believe that God is in control of everything anyway, but something happened just now that brought the phrase to mind, and I’m so thankful to God for the way He worked things out tonight!

First, He made him chose the seat next to me in the meeting tonight. There were plenty of empty seats in that room, so that itself was something worth noting already.

Then, somehow, the meeting was run differently this time, including its prayer time. Usually, we prayed as a whole big group, led by two or three people. Tonight, we broke off into small groups of 2 or 3 people, and so you had to talk to the person next to you.

After that, nothing unusual seemed to happen… Things went as normal, and I even came to a conclusion that tonight was going to be my last night attending such meeting. That I was on my way out.

During the day, I planned to leave the meeting by 8.15. But somehow, along the way, I decided that maybe, I should just wait just a bit longer… Somehow, God changed my heart, and I ended up staying there until the meeting ended.

Then, of course, as predicted, I missed my bus by three minutes (I saw the bus from across the street!), even after running all the way to the bus stop. And so I had to wait for the next one. During those few minutes waiting for the next bus, I couldn’t help but think how stupid I was for not leaving just a few minutes earlier! But I guess, that’s why as human beings, we need to keep reminding ourselves that we don’t always have the big picture, while God does! =)

I guess, He always knows what He is doing…

The brother caught up to the bus stop just in time. We ended up catching the same bus. Seating next to each other because the other bus had passed just not long ago, and so there were quite a few empty seats on our bus!

He was a friendly brother in Christ, and a very good listener. So it was easy for me to share my thoughts with him. (If you do know me, it’s not that often that I’m willing to share my thoughts with people – at least, not just with anyone…) I guess, the topic of conversation that God made him chose at the start of our conversation also helped! =)

Anyway, I shared with him about my concerns and thoughts and he gave a very wise advice.

I am very thankful to God for the way things turned out tonight. And I’m especially most thankful for the conversation I had with the brother in the bus – which wouldn’t have happened if God doesn’t worked things out the way He did tonight though!

Somehow, he managed to convince me to stay. Sharing his own past experiences, and convincing me that the very reasons for my opting out should actually be my motivations and my reasons to stay put and persevere!

And so, I left the meeting with a resignation letter drafted in my mind…

I got off the bus with an amen to his parting words:

“I’ll see you next time – at least, one more meeting!”

PS: I know God doesn’t always worked things out the way He did. Neither did He have to do any of that. This is just simply a report of what He did do tonight. And it is something that I am very very thankful to Him for! =)