Let’s Play Tag

The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. —Isaiah 50:4, KJV

I remember playing outside with my friends as a child. We had lots of energy to burn and plenty of time on our hands. We played countless games, but one of my favorites was tag. The idea of the game was to choose one player to be “it.” Whoever was “it” had to run after the other children, attempting to tag one of them, who would then become “it.” How we loved to chase each other around the trees. Now, many years later, I am a minibus tour guide in Bermuda, and I pray every day, “Lord, help me to reach someone within my sphere of influence so I can touch someone for You.” What God really wants is someone willing to speak for Him, and He will do the connecting. On one particular day I had a wonderful family of eight who were happy and excited to be on tour. They enjoyed swimming at the beach and exploring our beautiful island. However, one member of the group did not join us due to an emergency.

As the tour neared its end, one of the family members received a call and learned that her father was being kept at the hospital and her mother needed to get back to the ship. As the mother entered the van, she was crying in distress.

She thanked me for the ride, and I asked her if there was anything I could do to help. I shared that I had a pastoral pass and would be allowed to visit her husband in the hospital. She surprised me by responding, “Yes, I know you do. I looked you up before I came on tour this morning.” Later that day I “tagged” my pastor because my tour schedule was full for the next few days, and I was unable to get to the hospital. Because of the sensitivity of her husband’s condition, we agreed the pastor was the best one to visit the hospital.

They had a meaningful, encouraging visit. I was also able to connect and pray with his wife when she returned home. As I considered the turn of events, the game from my childhood popped into my head. God, in His divine foresight, uses us to reach others. Many years before, God used my husband to “tag” me with the gospel so that I could “tag” others. So I encourage you today, “Let’s play tag!”

Julie Richardson