Monday, November 4, 2013

A DANGEROUS ENCOUNTER


OK, this is a great story – with a good lesson.

Ready?


My sons went on a business trip a few weeks ago.  Stayed in a hotel for a few days.  And, if you happen to be two young men with big appetites, staying in a hotel is a good thing.

Can you say…?

Free breakfast buffet.

Son #2 (the early bird) got up bright and early the first morning and decided to go get something to eat.  He graciously invited Son #1 to accompany him.  Son #1 (the night owl) mumbled something incoherent that sounded something like "Not now…sleepy..."

So, Son #2 dressed up in his slacks, his dress shoes - no socks - and an undershirt (I would have given money to see that get-up!) and headed down the elevator.

When the doors opened, the first thing he saw was a large and scary man dressed in camouflage clothes pointing a very large weapon directly at his heart.

Yes.

AT. HIS. HEART.

He told me the only thing he had time to think was, "I'm dead."

Scary camouflage-man quickly whispered to him, "Are you going to breakfast?"

"Uh yeah," my son answered.

With a quick move, the large and scary man shifted to the first floor hallway, took up a defensive position, and motioned with the weapon toward the lobby.

My son left.

When he arrived in the lobby, he encountered another very large and scary man.  Assuming this was the commander (his brain now moving past "I'm dead" to "Huh, must be a SWAT situation"), he stopped.  Well, he was commanded to stop – and questioned – and ID'd.

The commander informed Son #2 that there was a fugitive situation in the hotel on the first floor.

And, in no uncertain terms, there would be NO breakfast.

At which time, my youngest retraced his steps back, where he was once again weapon-motioned toward the elevator.

No one got breakfast that morning.

When it was time for the sons to go to their meeting, they had to call down first, quickly leave the elevator, meet and greet Mr. Commanderand be questioned and ID'd again – before they could leave the hotel.

Well, I'm happy to say the situation was resolved peacefully.

But, the joke of the day was Son #2's reaction to having a weapon pointed at him.

Did he close the elevator doors and go back up to his room?

Oh no…not that son.

He KEPT ON GOING to breakfast.

When he told me this story (long after they had arrived home from their trip, thank goodness!), I asked him about this.

"Why did you keep going to the lobby?  What were you thinking??"

His answer?

"I was hungry."

Yup, just like that.  Matter-of-fact and to-the-point.


That's the great story.

Here's the good lesson.


You know, we so often walk through our days without thinking.  Normal routines, normal activities, normal places.  We don't often think we're going to face danger.

But, as believers, we are in danger all the time.

There's a devouring lion on the prowl.  He lies in wait, he hunts us down. He's always ready to pounce with unexpected attacks.

And once in a while, we might just find ourselves with one of his weapons pointed directly at our hearts.

Yes.

AT. OUR. HEARTS.

But this is the crucial moment.  The moment of decision.

In the face of his onslaught, his assault, his ambush – what should we do?

I'm afraid that I would not follow Son #2's example.

I'm afraid that I'd be inclined to back up into that elevator, push the button, and retreat to the confines of my room.

I'd cower.

And even though I would have preferred that my son had done the same in his real-life SWAT situation  – in some ways, I admire him.

He went about his business.  He walked on undeterred.

Why?

Because he was hungry.

He had a mission – and he just kept going.


This is the lesson I'm taking away.

There are going to be times when unanticipated danger is going to come our way.  For we have a dangerous enemy.

But we must not let him back us down or send us running.  We must not allow him to force us to hide.

Let the SWAT team take care of the danger.  (Sharon's Acrostic Dictionary defines SWAT this way):

S avior
W ins
A ll the
T ime

Us?

We should just keep going about our godly business, walking on undeterred.

For we have a mission!

Carry on, my friends…carry on!






These shoes are made for walkin',
and that's just what they'll do. 



"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8, NLT)

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." (Philippians 3:12, NIV)


What does the enemy use to deter, detain, or distract you from God's mission?


Linked today with:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Hazel at TELL ME A TRUE STORY
Jen at UNITE
Darlene at TITUS 2SDAY
Salina at HEART REFLECTED
Nannette at WISDOM WEDNESDAY
Rachel at WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAY
Rosilind at A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAY
Jenifer at WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Judith at WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAY
Wanda at THE FRIDAY FIVE
Laura at FAITH FILLED FRIDAY
Leslie at FAITHFUL FRIDAY
Mel at ESSENTIAL FRIDAYS
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS
Sandra at STILL SATURDAY
Barbie at WEEKEND BREW
Janis at SUNDAY STILLNESS


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

24 comments:

  1. Sharon, I wasn't sure what lesson you were going to pull from that situation but it's a great one. We have to learn to keep moving despite the many distractions that come our way. But I'm like you I probably would have just went back to my room :)

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  2. Sharon, The fact that this happened a few weeks ago tells me that your (mother's) heart must have needed quite some time to settle down and come to some peace with this. This type of scenario is happening so often nowadays, that it is a real threat for anyone to travel anywhere!
    But, the spiritual lesson that you managed to glean from it all is very intuitive...The enemy of our soul is sometimes very covert, but sometimes right in our face.
    Loved the S-W-A-T acronym!
    Blessings and love~ Lisa

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  3. Scary story...but a great lesson! We need not fear when we have Christ in our lives! We need to stand tall, put on the armor of God and keep moving forward on our mission!

    Blessings, Joan

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  4. Hi Dear! Oh my Lord! Your son is either hysterically funny or blind, or...hungry! If that happened to me, I'd be in a pile on the floor of the elevator. And the fact that this SWAT guy let him go to breakfast? That's so funny!

    I love the lesson you pulled out of this situation. If I am hungry, I'll run through all the hoops, and face the threats to my heart. Nothing should stand in my way. I should be relentless. Just like your son and his mission to the pancakes.
    (Still giggling!)
    Ceil

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  5. Thank you so much for sharing this story. It reminds me that with God on our side we can face anything. We may not handle it like others but He will carry us through. Have a blessed day

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  6. Spot on Sharon, we are in that situation, as always you put it so well. Thank God your sons didn't get harmed physically that day. God please help us all to put on the armour and recognise and resist the temptations and snares of the enemy of souls.

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  7. Hi Sharon, wow, great story. And love how you have used it to make a Godly point. I was actually thinking about you today and decided I really love your writing, always a story, with a great lesson. You're doing an awesome thing here lovely lady!
    God bless
    Tracy

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  8. Sharon, I love this story you are sharing here at "Tell Me a True Story." Yes, your son was focused and knew he was headed to get something to eat and let nothing detain him. When our old enemy barks negative remarks in our spiritual ears, we must go forward in the direction we are pointed at, and listen instead to the voice that says come eat and drink and rejoice!

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  9. Oh my goodness....I am afraid if the door to the elevator opened to a man pointing a gun at my heart I would have to go back to my room ....to change! Good grief what a scary story but what a powerful analogy Sharon. It is so true the enemy comes at us and we need to just move forward in God's plan for us. Once when the well known preacher wigglesworth saw Satan sitting in the rocker in his living room, he is known to have said, "oh, it is only you" and then went to bed! Doing our Fathers business........so very true. Great post Sharon. Powerful!

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  10. Wow, what a dangerous situation for sons, especially the one determined to get breakfast! Glad it resolved sooner than later and seemed to resolve safely!

    It is hard sometimes to stay on the right path God wants us to and not be deterred by that pesky enemy indeed. Always good to remember that God, who is much greater, is on our side!

    betty

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  11. What a great story but an even better lesson! I want that hunger that your one son had...not for physical food, of course, but to be so hungry for Him that I will not be deterred for anything! I love your acrostics too! Thank you for sharing God, Sharon :)

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  12. Thanks Sharon for a great reminder. Like you, I think I would have ran for cover too. May we continue to go about our business knowing God is holding our hand through it all.

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  13. I most certainly understand the whole 2 options. To be honest, I would have been afraid to run back to the elevator in case the gunner would want to knock me down. I'd be on my guard and looking and looking. [I was raised abusively so one of my main stress times is to know where the exit is... school, houses, shops. Still react that way, but usually in making sure when/how to serve the Lord rapidly.] You are a good mom when you could hear the story and not scream or break into tears. AND you shared very, very well. Thank you.

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  14. What an amazing story - I can't believe it. I know that you were all relieved. I am glad he is okay. sandie

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  15. Well said. Great lesson. Nicely done :)

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  16. I'm lovin' this!!! Cracking up at your son! Sounds just like my number 2!! Such a good lesson you pulled out of this as well Sharon! Awesome!! Loved every bit of it!! Blessings on you today my good friend. Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday! Thanks for sharing this at Wisdom Wednesdays!! ♥

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  17. Wonderful lesson!

    Thank you for linking up with Woman to Woman's Word Filled Wednesday. God bless.

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  18. Great story. Great lesson. Glad everyone was safe.

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  19. I love this Sharon! I think one of the enemy's weapons that he aims at our hearts is fear. And, how often does fear push us back or send us running away from what God is calling us to?!? Too often.
    Great reminder!
    ~Laura

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  20. Amazing story, Sharon! It occurred to me also that your son was hungry and that this was his motivation to keep going even when he faced danger. If we are hungry enough for God and His Word we will pursue Him no matter what threats or snares we face along the way.
    Thanks so much for sharing at Essential Fridays.
    Blessings
    Mel

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  21. I'm so glad your sons are okay! Great post to come out of that story!

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  22. Hi Sharon,
    Wow! What a scary experience. I'm sure my son would do the same thing as nothing seems to deter his growling stomach.
    Such a great lesson to pull out of that too. If we are hungry for God we will pursue Him no matter what stands in our way.

    I'm following you from The Weekend Brew.

    Blessings,
    <><

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  23. I'm afraid I would have collapsed in a heap had I encountered a man of any description with a gun pointed at me. Yikes! Grateful it all ended well, even though your son came away hungry. :-)

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  24. Great post, Sharon! Love the metaphor - and the humorous way you always lay out your tales. Far too much crazy in the world that gets in the way of a good breakfast - yes - keep your focus. No matter what - God's got this one! And more!
    Joy!
    Kathy

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

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