[This reflection by David Makanjuola was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 08/Mar/2026]
I went on a course a few days ago. It runs once a year, at a venue in a particular London hospital. I was dropped off at Horley station and made my way into London. It was a smooth journey, and I arrived with a bit of time to spare. On the way out of the tube station as I walked to the hospital, I noticed a homeless man sitting on the sidewalk with a sign asking for donations. I walked to him and put some money in his cup. He said “God bless you” and I said a prayer in my mind for him as I walked on towards the course.
On arriving, I went to register, but they couldn’t find my name on the list. It turned out that I was on time, but in the wrong hospital and at the wrong course!
I then read the directions on the program that had been sent by email, and for the first time in many years, they had changed the venue. I hadn’t bothered to read all the way down. I didn’t think I needed to. Well, that taught me a lesson.
I hurried back to the tube station and walked past the homeless man again. He recognised me, smiled and waved. I might just be looking for a way to excuse the fact that I didn’t read the directions, but I wondered as I got on the tube whether in some way, I had made that mistake about the venue so I could be a source of God’s blessing to that homeless man.
Constantine, who attends our church, came up to me a couple of weeks ago to share something he’d read in the Bible. It was about Saul, who became the first king of Israel. Saul started his day heading out to look for his father’s donkeys that had gone missing. He couldn’t find them and was just about to give up when he was asked to go and ask for directions from the prophet Samuel. He got more than he was expecting when he met Samuel – he was anointed Israel’s King. Constantine said, “Imagine that. One moment you’re looking for donkeys, the next, you’re anointed king”.
I remembered Constantine’s comments as I was preparing this article. God tells us that His ways are beyond our understanding but reassures us that the plans He has for us are good plans, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future.[1]
So, the next time you find you’ve turned up in the wrong place, especially because you didn’t read the directions, look round for that person who God might have sent you to bless.
Resources:
[1] Jeremiah 29:11
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Last Sunday’s reflection: Another Bible Eye-opener! by Dennis Ginter
Contributed by David Makanjuola; © David Makanjuola