CROSSING PATHS

I continue to be a person that God places special people in my life at just the right time. When I need a boost or a confirmation regarding a decision, a "God-Thing" always happens.

In high school, I didn't even know I needed direction from God. He, however, sent Howard Butt and Frank Boggs to Springfield for a youth revival sponsored by a college young peoples' group. A few of us from Greenwood went to a college assembly and heard Butt speak and Boggs sing. That experience planted a seed.

When I was an undergraduate, I was struggling with a decision about changing schools. A strong Christian believer was God's person to speak to me and help me take the right direction. He never knew he influenced me.

I was at Glorietta Baptist Assembly for student week when my parents called and said I had been drafted into the United States Army. That was a bit of a low for me, but after arriving at the Army base, I met a Chaplain who was just the right person to provide the proper direction for me and made it possible for me to attend Baylor University.

It was perhaps the lowest part of my life when I lacked direction and confidence. My secretary encouraged me by saying that I had so much going for me; however, she never knew or realized that her comments were so greatly needed and meant so much to me.

In the living room of my home in Springfield a good friend made a statement about divorce that spoke to me. He said that divorce is falling short of God's ideal. God's ideal is for one man and one woman to remain together, but like so many other areas of life where we fall short of God's ideal, divorce is also one of them. He didn't know he helped me.

Another friend pointed out to me a truth that continues to be a blessing. He said: "Influence is so much more important than power." That still strikes a chord in my life and helps me in leadership.

You have undoubtedly helped someone by something you said or a deed you accomplished, yet you are unaware of it. As a believer in Christ, let us join together to share some of the things we have experienced or some wisdom Christ has given us with those with whom our paths cross. In the movie "Radio," Ed Harris said maybe he should not have done all those things for the boy they called "Radio." Debra Winger, his wife, said: "Helping someone is always a good thing!" Debra didn't know she was preaching a great sermon.