Have you ever been trapped in a small place with someone who is different and who thinks differently from you? Someone who apparently has considered everything and already has all the answers to every question? Answers that differ completely from yours?

I was “trapped” in a car with such a person and another friend to another friend’s 50th celebrations in the Karoo. About 8 hours there and 8 hours back.

He believes in reincarnation and would really like to know in what form he will return to earth after his death.

I quickly realised that the car was not the right place and even less was it the right time to confront him. He in any case already had the answers prepared. Although I did tell him the story about the lecturer who had to answer a student’s question of whether he would ever find God. The lecturer responded: “No, you won’t find God, but God will find you.”

That was all I had to say, but for the rest I had to care for, not to push him away, and just accept him the way he is. We at length discussed our individual ways of seeing things and the fact that we did not always notice the same things. But in all of this, the two of us in the car who saw things differently from him, simply showed him care and love. No judging. No threatening with going to hell and so on.

About 15 kilometres from the farm, screams suddenly filled the car and when I looked up from my cell phone, I saw a kudu had jumped right in front of the car. It was a split second and then we crashed into the kudu. We were all OK, but shaking from the adrenaline pumping through our veins. The car was damaged and the poor buck breathed its last breath.

When the dust had settled and we were calmer, he gave me a high five and said: “Someone must have been looking out for us. It could’ve been so much worse!” Immediately, I wanted to testify to him, but realised that the time was not right.

I realise that the Holy Spirit was involved in the few hours that we were together and that no judgement or argument from my side would’ve made a difference. Something inside him had stirred. The seed has been sowed and God will do the rest. More often than not, living love, caring and being tolerant achieve more than a thousand words.

After that trip I understood the following so much better: ¹⁰You’re already good at it; your friends all over the province of Macedonia are the evidence. Keep it up; get better and better at it.

In strange places, at strange times, God asks us to give to others. To love even more. Places and times that we don’t expect it. I know with all of my heart that God had had an appointment with our fellow traveler on the road to the Karoo. God didn’t expect much of us, except to love, care and not judge.

I trust we did that. Even though it was not “another believer”, I believe that it was and is indeed our task to care for all and to live love so that God’s plan can become true in the lives of others.

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

Reflection

Where do you have to live more love?

How do you have to do it?

When do you have to do it?

Prayer

Father, only You can make love for others grow in us to excess. Work in us and with us so that You can also work through us. Amen.