Something that hit me while living in Europe is what a privilege it is to talk about Jesus Christ with someone – probably because the opportunity to even broach the topic of spirituality can be such a rare thing. Equally as important is the privilege of listening to others’ stories of faith, no matter what their spiritual background. Because generally, if a Spaniard starts talking about that stuff with you, he or she has some serious trust in you – and you’d better not take it for granted.
I had a conversation with my guitar instructor one fall day that drove those things home for me. At the time, I was doing a Bible study with some Spanish friends, and as part of the study, we were each wearing a blue yarn bracelet. Martín saw it and asked me about it during my guitar lesson that week.
“What’s your blue bracelet mean?”
“Well,” I began, carefully trying to eliminate Christian-ese from my word choices, “it’s related to a Bible study my friends and I are doing.”
“Oh yeah? What’s the Bible study about?” Martín asked.
“It’s about faith,” I said, shocked by his interest. “We’re looking at stories in the Bible and examples of people who really believed God, not just who believed in Him. It’s about looking at who we sometimes think God is and comparing it to Who He really is, based on what He says about Himself,” I gushed. “And it’s also looking at promises He makes in His Word.”
“And what are God’s promises?” Martín continued. At this point, I’m sure he was watching me pick my jaw up off the floor.
“Wow – there are a lot!” I said, still incredulous. I decided to take the plunge. “The most important promise is that we can have a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. He also promises us abundant life, blessings – there are a ton!”
Martín and I went on to have an amazing conversation that afternoon, one only God could have orchestrated. Not only was I blown away by being able to talk about Jesus, but I felt equally honored that Martín would talk to me about his spiritual journey.
Martín explained that he doesn’t consider himself a believer because he doesn’t subscribe to an organized religion, but he said he does believe there is something more to life, something bigger than us. He even mentioned his uncle had written a book about spirituality that he enjoyed. And the next week, he had dug it up to let me read it.
Really, our conversation could have taken place in any place in Europe, the United States or the world – but the fact that the streets of Madrid aren’t exactly filled with spiritually open people like Martín made this conversation – and subsequent ones – all the more precious.
I don’t ever want to take for granted the privilege I have in journeying alongside Martín and many others, listening and learning from them while also being faithful to speak God’s truth into their lives. I trust that just as God used that conversation to encourage me, He also used it to spark an interest in Jesus in Martín’s heart.
