Why I like the state fair

It's not the food, although it's the only time I get to have mini donuts.  We don't go on rides anymore, but the Ejector Seat is right up my alley (except I don't want to pay the $50 admission).  Mainly, I like wandering around so I can feel better about myself.

In some sort of sick way, a byproduct of going to the fair is realizing that, maybe, my life isn't so bad; I have my act together.  I mean, where else can you go and people-watch, seeing humanity in all its glory?  Pigging out on junk, smelling the garbage and others' B.O.  Seeing people from all walks of life:  Republican and Democrat.  Rich and poor.  Healthy and unhealthy.  Young and old.  Disabled and abled.  Yup, I feel pretty good about my self.

And...there's probably someone out there looking at me, thinking the same thing.

We're all sinners.  The fair is a collection of sinners.

On the shuttle bus ride to the fair, I decided to get out of my comfort zone and strike up a conversation with a couple sitting in front of us (That's my goal each day:  to strike up a conversation with someone and see where it goes.  Maybe the person I visit with has a need I can help with).  Turns out, their kids (also on the bus) were on a mission trip recently.  One topic turned to another, and I recommended that Bob try out the "Head Blade" product, since he and I both appear to shave our heads.  As we chatted, we discovered that they're believers in Christ and very active in church.  Hmmmm, maybe we do have something in common.  I handed Bob an Engage business card, we traded email addresses, and agreed to stay in touch.  Another brother in Christ I never knew before.

In his book "Chasing Daylight," Erwin McManus states that there are 3 things we MUST remember daily:
1.  God is calling us to something extraordinary
2.  Every moment is rich with opportunity
and 3.  Too many of us are sleeping.

How true.  How can we remember to step out daily?  How do we use each and every moment of opportunity?  I do it by taking a chance.  Besides, what's the worst that can happen anyway?

God asks us (if not commands us) to step out in faith, away from safety.  Is having a conversation with a stranger "dangerous?"  Perhaps.  Maybe this is part of carrying our cross - to step out of our own comfort to see what happens. 

Let's see how this can work in next week's blog, "Jonathan Picks A Fight."

In the meantime,
- name one thing you can do each day to take advantage of an opportunity-rich moment.
- think about the statement, "Right behind the mundane is the miraculous."  What does this mean to you?

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