Opportunity

I am going to tell you a story about a man. While I know that some of you have heard about this man, I am sure that a lot of you have not, and it is a really good story.

There was an horrible storm, and the rains came so intensely that they started to flood the small town where he lived. The water got so high that it was almost up to his front porch, and people were doing all that they could to get to higher grounds.

The man was sitting on his front porch when a neighbor came by in a canoe and offered him a ride. "No, that is okay. I have faith in God, and I know that He will take care of me. I will be all right."

"Are you sure?" asked the neighbor. "I have room for you."

"No, that is fine. Thank you, anyway, but I will be fine."

A while later the floods had gotten so high that the man had to go upstairs in his house. He was at a window when a few people in a row boat came by and offered to get him out of there.

The man said, "No, thank you. You go on and save someone else. I have faith in God, and I believe that He is going to take care of me, so I will be okay."

"Man, the flood is getting higher and higher! You need to come with us now!" was the reply.

"No, no. I will be fine. Thank you, anyway."

When they could not talk him into getting on the boat, they left to find safety.

Later on, the floods were so high that the man's house was almost completely under water, and he was actually sitting on the top of the chimney to try to stay safe. A rescue team came by helicopter, and someone dropped a ladder to the man. "Grab the ladder and climb up!" they yelled down to him.

"No, thank you!" he yelled back. "I am going to be okay. I love God, and I have faith in Him, and I know that He will take care of me!"

The rescue worker said, "Buddy, be reasonable! The flood is over your house, and you have nowhere else to go! Grab the ladder, and we will pull you to safety!"

"NO! I will be okay! GO find someone who needs you to rescue them!"

Finally, the rescue workers had to move on because the man refused to go with them, and they did have to see if there were other people needing help.

Well...after all of that...the man did drown.

When he got to Heaven, the man went right up to God and said, "God, I do not understand. I did what I was supposed to do: I had faith in you, and I believed that you were going to save me. You did not, though. Why did you let me die?"

Then God said to the man, "My child, I send you a canoe, a rowboat and an helicopter. What more did you want me to do?"

Has the realization hit you yet? Life is so full of opportunities. Every time you turn around, there is another opportunity. How many opportunities do you think that you miss, overlook, or just pass up? Do you even realize all of the opportunities that are given to you?

Sometimes we miss an opportunity because we are too self-involved at the moment when it is presented. Sometimes we miss an opportunity because it shows up in overalls and calls itself work. (Thomas Edison.) Sometimes we miss an opportunity because we think that it is intended for someone else. Sometimes we miss an opportunity because it is not what we want at the time. Sometimes we miss an opportunity simply because we are not looking.

If you feel like something is missing in your life, I encourage you to make a point to not waste your time doing nothing because you expect nothing. Do not miss opportunities because they are not what you expect. Instead, see each opportunity for what it is.