Since I have been witnessing every day, I am able to see unlimited opportunities to share the gospel. This can be a problem when I am out with my family. At times I can be distant with my wife or perhaps impatient with my children because I am thinking about my next encounter. This is not good and probably sinful. Since I am painfully aware of this fact, I have created rules that I am to live by when out with my family. I do not attempt to speak with people for a considerable amount of time during family outings. For example, tonight we were looking for a place to eat while on a walk. We passed by three teenager sitting on the curb of the sidewalk. I was well aware that I could engage them in a spiritual conversation, but I knew that this would be an inconvenience to my family. Another thing that I try to do is capture thoughts that distract me from my role as a husband and father. When I see someone standing alone and I begin to think about witnessing, I quickly pray for them and turn my attention back to the needs of my family. These types of rules can be challenging when my passion is for the lost, but as I have said in the past, my home is the most important ministry. I say all of this because I was at the zoo with my family today. There were countless opportunities to share but I often shifted my focus back to my wife and kids. Caden and I were waiting on the girls when we sat down next to a man on a bench.
Me: This is a beautiful zoo. How long has it been around?
Man: Oh, I think about twenty years.
Me: What a wonderful place to observe God's creation.
Man: It's wonderful because it's free (laughing).
Me: Do you go to church?
Man: No.
Me: Are you an atheist or an agnostic?
Man: I was born and raised Catholic.
Me: Would you call yourself a backslidden Catholic?
Man: Something like that.
Me: (Handing him a gospel tract) Read this when you get a chance.
I saw the girls returning in the distance, and since they needed a husband and a father, I left the tract to do the rest of the talking.
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