Noel Caldwell
Retired, Midlands Technical College
Columbia, South Carolina
[April 11, 2010] —
As I walked through the parking lot toward the entrance of Wal-Mart, a young woman came running by me frantically crying, “Oh My God! Oh My God! Oh My God!”
Her unattended car was rolling out of its parking space toward other cars. She had apparently neglected to place her car in “park” while talking on her cell phone. Fortunately, several men stopped it in time.
Neglecting The Important
Seeing this, I wondered how many die neglecting the single most important thing in life. Busy about so many things, they fail to get to acknowledge their sin and to establish a personal relationship with Him. Then it is too late!
Jesus asked, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”(Matthew 16:26).
In academia, we have a platform to influence students, faculty, staff and others for Christ. I ask myself:
“Am I being proactive to use the gifts and abilities God has given me?
“Am I too passive, doing almost nothing?
“Have I literally ‘forsaken’ any by not sharing the indispensable good news of eternal life offered through Jesus Christ?”
Those men in the parking lot could have ignored the woman’s plight. They had their own errands to attend to. But they chose to care, and to help. Each of us influences the lives of others, intentionally or not.
A faculty member in electronics asked if we could meet privately somewhere outside my office. He indicated that his observation of my life prompted his request to meet.
Later that day, in a secluded laboratory, he told me he had drifted away from the Christian faith and now he wanted to return. He recommitted his life to Jesus Christ as we prayed together. We are still in touch and he still follows Christ.
The Holy Spirit’s Prompting
Over lunch with another colleague I sensed that the Holy Spirit was prompting my sharing. I told my friend Randall how he could know Christ personally.He questioned enthusiastically, “You mean I can pray right now and receive Christ?”
In the noisy restaurant, we prayed together. About a year later he learned he had prostate cancer that proved to be terminal. Several Christian colleagues visited and encouraged him right up to the time he was called home to be with the Lord.
In these days of diminishing returns on investments, isn’t it great to know that we can lay up treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys? We could just ignore the opportunities. But it really is worth it to interrupt our day sometimes — and to care.
© 2010 Noel Caldwell