I worked for a time at First Church Fairfield with David Spollett, an heroic figure in the town since he more or less singlehandedly founded
Operation Hope
. That’s a homeless shelter that houses about 30 individuals and families 24/7/365 and has rescued countless souls.
Because he always very much on my mind I was reminded of something he said to me one time. He was describing those times in life when you are dreading going into a room full of people for a meeting or even a room with one other person in it. Why dreading? Because something may happen in that room that could go awry. Perhaps there is a foe in it or people who are unknown quantities or a situation has come up that is going to make the conversation difficult. You know what I mean.
He said, “Do you know what I do these days when that happens?” I shook my head. “Well, I didn’t used to do this but for the past few weeks this idea came to me and I thought I’d try it.” I was intrigued.
“I call on Jesus to be with me, of course. But then as I open the door, I pause just a few seconds and picture Jesus going into the room ahead of me. I figure if Jesus is in the room with me, I’m not going to face whatever happens in there alone. I’m going to be fine.”
Whenever my anxiety is not so strong as to make me to forget this wisdom, I try to follow David’s lead. And follow Jesus into the room.
-Daniel
