Seize the Opportunities
By Justin March

“Today, give a stranger one of your smiles.  It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.”
H. Jackson Brown

I was early to the construction site Saturday morning.  As usual, when I
make a commitment to be somewhere, I always give myself plenty of time so that
unforeseen delays or events don’t stop me from being on time.  I cannot
stand to be late, and I have learned to take those extra moments to relax and
get grounded instead of putting myself in a state of stress as I scramble to
meet some deadline.  Sometimes those extra minutes are wasted, but
sometimes they allow me to free my mind and keep my eyes open to what God is
trying to show me.  This would be a day I was thankful for the extra time.

I decided to turn around and go back to a Winchell’s Donut House I had passed
on Federal Boulevard.  I pulled into an open parking space, exited my
vehicle, and opened the door to the aroma of freshly baked pastries.
Within a matter of seconds, I had ordered my breakfast and found a table I
could relax at and enjoy my meal.  It was an uneventful morning, and as I
watched a few customers come and go, my presence at this place seemed
insignificant.  It was just another meal, and in a few minutes, I would be
on my way to see what the good people at Habitat had in store for us.  But
God was not ready for me to leave this establishment yet.  No, there was
somebody He needed me to meet.  And before I had a chance to pick up my
belongings and head to the door, a man named Dakota came in to order his donut.

Dakota looked like sleep had escaped him the last few days.  Dakota looked
like his clothes could use a good washing, his face a clean shave, and his body
a long shower.  I would not say he looked down and out, but my first
impression was this stage in life was probably not his best.  But just
like my presence at this donut house seemed insignificant, his did too as he
ordered his donut, stepped outside, and devoured it.  I was not sure why I
was so distracted by Dakota’s brief time at the restaurant, but it did not take
long for God to show me there was a reason.

After finishing his breakfast, Dakota decided to come back into the
establishment.  I had not risen from my table yet, and before I knew it,
this gentleman took the table beside me and struck up a conversation.  He
looked at the t-shirt I was wearing, “Bison Pride”, and asked me if
it symbolized the Bison from North Dakota State.  I told him it did
indeed, and that was all it took for the two of us to engage in a delightful
conversation.  I learned that Dakota’s grandfather had helped build much
of the NDSU campus during his life in Fargo.  I learned that his uncle
helped design the Fargodome where the Bison play their games.  And I
learned that his family was so proud of their heritage and so intertwined in
their community, that he was named Dakota after the state they so dearly
loved.  It was a fairly meaningless conversation, but as Dakota said his
goodbyes so he could catch the arriving bus, I knew there was a reason God had
put him into my life.

Sometimes the free minutes we have are wasted, but sometimes God uses them so
our perspective on life can be altered.  My Saturday ended up being a day
full of blessings and good fortune.  I spent time with my brother and
friends building walls for the Habitat home we had volunteered to
support.  We worked hard, we had great conversations, and I left that
jobsite with a good feeling that God had used us to be his hands and feet in
our community.  Yet, as we packed up the tools and cleaned up our work
area, I could not stop thinking about my encounter with Dakota and what it
meant for this fine Saturday.  It was insignificant and seemed like
nothing, but at the same time, it was a lasting impression and stayed with me
throughout the day.  I wondered where that bus was taking Dakota, what his
next adventure would be, and How God was going to use him to bring light to the
people he encountered in his journey.  Maybe nothing else happened in
Dakota’s day, but I can tell you this, he made mine special.

Are we seizing the opportunities God puts before us?  Are we open to what
He wants to show us and making the most of the free moments we are
gifted?  Sometimes it feels like we are overcommitted, burnt out, and
buried under the schedules and deadlines.  Sometimes we fail to slow down
and take those few precious moments to engage with one another.  And
sometimes we go to bed without the slightest recollection of God’s presence in
the day or how He used others to spread His light into our lives.

Friends, I know it becomes easy for the days to get past us when we are
constantly bombarded with notifications and distractions.  But I can promise
you this.  There are a lot of “Dakota’s” in each and every one
of our lives.  We may not notice them all.  We may not realize that
God has sent them to make an impression on our day.  But if we keep our
eyes open and are willing to embrace the people He sends our way, it is amazing
the impact they can have in just a few moments.  I keep thinking about
Dakota and how in just a few short minutes, he placed a stamp on my
heart.  His simple conversation stays fresh in my mind, and even 24 hours
later, I am feeling blessed that God allowed me to spend just a few moments
with this person I will most likely never see again.  I am thankful for my
encounter with Dakota, I am thankful for the day spent with family and friends,
and I am thankful for a life where God blesses me when I am willing to let Him
in.  Hopefully, somewhere in this world, there is a man named Dakota who
is feeling the same!