I read a cute story about a woman who came into an ice cream shop. She felt she needed a pick-me-up sweet treat after the week she’d had. The only other one in the shop was Paul Newman, with those gorgeous azure eyes shining. Her heart pooled to her knees but she inwardly chided herself that she was a grown woman with three teenage children, not a pre-teen with an idol fixation. She chose to just nod politely, turn order her ice cream and willed herself not to gawk.
As she left, she again glanced in his direction and gave him a neighborly smile. When she got to her car, she had her change in one hand, but no ice cream cone. With a huge eye roll, she went back in to see if she had let the ice cream cone on the holder on the counter.
Paul winked at her and said, “It’s okay. You put it in your purse instead of your change.”
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It is amazing how flustered we can get over meeting someone famous. I remember how awestruck I was to have Vincent Price on my tour of the campus when I was in college as a docent. The world renowned seem larger than life, yet so often are humble and unassuming. Celebrities have a distinctive air about them that draws people to them. Maybe that is why they are stars.
There is another man that can draw people to Him, even today. When Jesus walked the earth, crowds gathered. Many were gawkers, but a few were touched by His presence. Some surely felt humbled by his mere appearance in front of them. He took their breath away. They never forgot how he looked them in the eye. They rushed to tell their friends and family about it.
Does Jesus make you feel that way? After all, He is supposed to be our first love. When you run into Him as you go about the day, are you humbled by His presence? Are you awestruck that He cares for you so very much that He would choose to be there?
You may not become so flustered you put your ice cream in your purse instead of your change, but you may feel a bit more special. After all, the Creator and Lord of the Universe appeared in the middle of your day, eyes shining with love just for you.
Realize that unlike that lady encountering her favorite movie star, God is present each and every day of your life whether you are aware of it or not. All you have to do is look for Him. Where will you find God today? It might be in an ice cream shop, in your kitchen, or right next to your desk at work. How will you respond?
