GAP hat

Two Sundays ago I spoke in church on proclaiming the gospel. I felt like a hypocrite because it has been a long time since I have attempted to share the gospel. My talk lacked a personal testimony element about sharing the gospel but nothing in my recent experiences seemed significant enough to share. As I sat down I resolved to do better.

Over the past few months I have told myself that because I work from home and have little to no direct personal contact with non members that I was 'off the hook' in terms of sharing the gospel. However, lately I have been traveling to Chicago almost weekly. I have made an effort to chat with the cab drivers that take me to and from the offices, but in all of those conversations I have been unprepared. I had not brought a copy of the Book of Mormon to share with these people.

So, last week as I was in preparing to leave in the morning for Chicago I decided to do my best and to pray for help. I asked the Lord to help me have a gospel conversation with one of the two taxi drivers that I would be taking to as I traveled to and back from the offices in Chicago. I placed a copy of the Book of Mormon in my computer bag so that I would be prepared.

I leave really early (for me) in the morning and it wasn't until I got off the plane at O’Hare before I remembered that I had made arrangements to rent a car. "Oh well, maybe I will still have an opportunity to place a Book of Mormon. "

My day at the office was non-stop; no single conversation lasted more than 20 minutes. I forgot all about my resolution to have a gospel conversation. At five o'clock, I was back in the car and racing to the airport for my flight back home.

I made it to the terminal in time to grab a bite and then onto my flight. The lady who sat next to me was asleep before we took off. This was fine by me because within 15 minutes I was asleep too.

I didn't think about my resolution again until I was back on the shuttle where I had earlier that morning prayed. I sat down and a passenger quipped "man that’s traveling light", referring to my single computer bag. I was caught off guard by his friendly greeting; I think I gave him an acknowledging grunt. 15 seconds passed and all of the sudden, "oh wait...I could have a conversation with this guy……pause…… but its been too long since he said first spoke to me….take a quick glance back at him ….. Based on his body language he didn't speak grunt. Oh well, next week I will do better."

I leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes. I was sitting directly behind a man who then asked the people across the aisle if this shuttle would take him to a bus stop. The other travelers informed him that he would have to stay on the shuttle and go back to the terminal if he was going to catch a city bus.

Then the man in front of me asked the traveler across the aisle if he could give him a ride. This caught my attention, “Oh wait a minute…this could be my guy.” The traveler asked where are you going, the man said the NE side of town. The traveler said that he was heading out NW, the other way and wouldn't be able to help. I thought,” I am also heading the other way I guess this isn’t my guy…well maybe next week”. The man turned around and I noticed his hat, the same hat that I have pictured here….My heart leapt as I made out the words - I love Jesus. He asked, “how about you man, can you give me a ride”? I responded, “Sure come with me”. As you can guess he received much more than just a ride.