Burnt Bagels & Baptism

 By Hannah Bechtel, Savage Campus

I love the early morning quiet.  There is something so anticipated about coming down the stairs of my home into the undisturbed living room and kitchen and breathing in the stillness of it all.  One morning a few weeks back I got to enjoy the early morning quiet of my workplace.  I got into the office around 7:30am.  I was in to work early because I had an overabundance of work to do.  I needed as much undisturbed office time as possible.  To my satisfaction, no one was there; no lights were on, no coffee was brewed.  After getting settled into my cubicle and replying to a few emails I decided it was time to brew that first pot of office coffee . . . sub par, yes . . . but free.  I was anxious to get back to my cube and work away, but realized my stomach was anxious for a little food, so I began toasting a bagel.  That's when I heard what I was hoping wouldn't happen for another 45 minutes or so . . . another person had arrived in the office, and they were coming my way.  Oh man, now I'm going to get "stuck" talking with someone about something, when really all I want to do is get my coffee, bagel, and head right back to my cube.  This was my attitude.  Sure enough, in she walks and she's ready to talk.  We start with small talk, the whole time I'm inching my way towards the break room door.  Then she says to me "Hey, you would be interested in this, my daughter is getting baptized this weekend.  She heard about it at Go Kids at River Valley Church and she came home telling me and my husband that  she wants to do it, so we're heading up to my parents home church and she's getting baptized."  She was right, I was interested, thrilled, and blessed to be told of her exciting news!  I was instantly convicted of my selfish attitude.  Just a few minutes earlier I was wishing to get out of the conversation, now I found myself wanting to prolong it, finding out about her daughter and how long they'd been apart of RVC, etc. . . As the conversation ended I realized my bagel was burning, but I didn't care, I had enjoyed the privelege of sharing a special moment with a co-worker.  A connection was made because of a common value, a core belief.  I thought to myself, what if I would have rushed out of the breakroom, went to my cube, and covered myself in work.  I would have missed it.   I love hearing about what God is doing in people's lives.  And I love that God slows me down to take the time to hear about it.  I encourage you today to slow down, take the time to find out what God is doing in the lives of those around you.  Ask your kids what God is teaching them, ask your co-workers what cool things are going on in their lives, and be ready for them to share.  Maybe you'll be blessed, or maybe you'll be burdened with the response, but either way, you'll make a connection; and we all need that!