How many times do you stop to think about missed opportunities? I am sure that we have all thought about what we could or should have said differently in an interview, even in an argument. We think of all the snappy comebacks that would have given our statements so much more power. Sometimes we have turned down going on a trip or out to dinner with friends only to be told later that an old friend from the past showed up or a celebrity was at the event and came over to speak. Maybe we should have been there. However, do you ever think about the time that you could have ministered to another person, a friend, a family member, a student, a colleague, or even a stranger? But you didn’t. Those moments are also called missed opportunities!
Why do we miss these opportunities? Perhaps fear is the greatest culprit. Maybe we don’t think that we will have the right words, or maybe we will be ridiculed. We may even think that we are not good enough. There are so many reasons, and they are probably wrong. First, we must remember what 2 Timothy 1:7 says “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” This scripture is so applicable in our world of family, school, and jobs. Have you counted the number of missed opportunities and wondered if your words would have yielded different results? Would a friend have married if he was told that he was not ready for the commitment? Would a friend learn the art of self-love and forgiveness and stop reverting back to old habits and different loves? Would an addicted family member take the first steps to recovery? How would some of your responses and actions have been different if someone had taken the opportunity to talk to you?
I have been given so many opportunities to have conversations with people, especially students, that have left me is speechless and oftentimes reflective. When students write me letters and repeat some of the comments that I have made, I realize the total impact of words. I have also learned that ministering to people does not always mean throwing scriptures at them because that is overwhelming and will cause some to shut down.
To an educator, the classroom is the battlefield where we have an opportunity to shape and develop young minds. We don’t always win the war, but we certainly try to win the battles. When we stand in faith and make the most of opportunities, we sometimes see and hear the effort of our work through the people standing in front of us. Sometimes, what we hear ourselves say surprises us, and that is what we call a “God moment.” In returning to the classroom this year, I realized that there are so many opportunities in dealing with students, parents, and colleagues. The question becomes, “Will I step out of my comfort zone and rise to the opportunity? or “Will I let the opportunity slip away?” This has not been a rhetorical question for me this year. In Part II, I will tell you how I was challenged by a student this year and how my response surprised me! Think about what responsibilities you have when an opportunity presents itself.
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Coffee Reflections 