Walking through the aisles of a local department store one day, I decided to wander over to the shoe aisle. There they sat—cute, bright white wedge sandals. I’ll try them on, I thought. A woman sat on the bench with an attached mirror trying on shoes as well. She had a pile on the floor in front of her.

“Those look cute,” she said looking over at me.

“Thanks, but I don’t know.” I thought, Maybe it’s best I don’t buy them. I was considering a job with a ministry that didn’t pay much, plus I already had many pairs of shoes.

A thin man with gray hair and a mildly slouched posture gave me a look around the corner of his cart. “They look great on you. You should get them,” he said.

The friendly woman continued talking like she’d known me for much longer than a few minutes. “I had knee surgery a few months ago. This was the first time I’d been able to make it out and get some new shoes.”

“Oh, really? I’ve been a physical therapist for the past 12 years,” I remarked. We talked about her knee surgery and some of the exercises she was doing.

“Where do you work?” she asked.

“I moved back to the area a few weeks ago. I was in Dallas getting my Masters degree in Christian education. I’m looking for a position in Christian education or physical therapy.”

By this time she’d introduced herself and her husband—Peggy and John. “My daughter and her husband are relocating to Dallas,” Peggy said. “You indicated that you graduated with a degree in Christian education. My daughter’s friend has cancer and has been having a spiritual person praying for her. What do you think about that?”

“I guess it would depend on who they’re praying to. Are they Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, something else, or just mixing it all up? I know Christ heals, but if they’re praying to a god that doesn’t exist they might as well pray to the air. There’s only one God—God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Only the real God hears prayers.”

“I’m not sure what they believe,” Peggy said as she continued trying on her multiple pairs of shoes.

“What about you?” I asked. “Have you trusted in Jesus?”

“Yes, I have,” she said.

“And your husband?”

“Well, he’s Jewish.”

Standing by his cart that contained four or five pairs of women’s shoes, I turned toward him and asked, “Are you Jewish?”

“Yes,” he replied.

“What kind of Jewish are you: Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, or Messianic?”

“Reform.”

“I love Jewish people,” I said. “Jesus was a Jew. How do you see Jesus?”

“He was a good man, a teacher. He set an example for us.”

“Oh, he did a lot more than that. Look at all the miracles he performed, including raising Lazarus from the dead. Have you ever read the New Testament? It fits perfectly with the Torah.”

“I never really looked into it. I was instructed as a child, but haven’t read much more since then,” he said.

“What do you do with your time?” I asked him.

“I’m a retired banker, but I still consult on the stock market.”

“I encourage you to sit down and read the Bible, especially the book of Matthew whose recipients were primarily Jewish. Did you know there are more than 300 prophecies recorded in the Torah that came true over 2,000 years later? Jesus claimed to be God and he proved it. He promises everlasting life to those who believe. He has definitely changed my life.”

“I’ll think about it,” John said.

“Both my dad and brother died instantly, so don’t wait until it’s too late. There are lots of Messianic Jewish congregations in the area. You could check them out. They retain many Jewish customs but have embraced Jesus as the Messiah. That’s why we don’t sacrifice for our sins anymore. He was the perfect blood sacrifice.”

After a little more talking I felt I needed to get going. We talked about a restaurant nearby where my family lived. I handed them a slip of paper. “Here’s my phone number in case you ever want to get together for coffee or dinner.” John gave me the name of a book to read on stocks.

I decided not to buy shoes that day. Besides, I got a lot more enjoyment out of my hour-long store conversation with Peggy and John than a material possession could have given me. I pray that one day John will trust in Jesus as his Savior and that I will see them both in Heaven. |L

 OUTLOOK is a forum for responsible Christian writers. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Standard Publishing or The Lookout.

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November 1, 2009 - Walking the edge
October 18, 2009 - Watch what you say
October 4, 2009 - Proposing a new proverb
September 20, 2009 - Fear and trembling
September 6, 2009 - Elwyn
August 23, 2009 - Where did the Bible go?
August 9, 2009 - The public school: a local mission field
July 26, 2009 - Astonishing the judges
July 12, 2009 - Letting the past go
June 28, 2009 - Line up
June 14, 2009 - The path to spiritual growth
May 31, 2009 - A tribute to one of my heroes
May 17, 2009 - Silent soldier
April 19, 2009 - Operation Resensitization
April 5, 2009 - The temptations of ministers
February 22, 2009 - By their plurals you shall know them
February 8, 2009 - What is missing from your retirement plans?
January 25, 2009 - Turn the page
December 28, 2008 - Abba, Father
December 14, 2008 - Elementary truths
November 30, 2008 - The illusion
October 19, 2008 - Acting like a toddler
October 5, 2008 - Don’t miss this
September 21, 2008 - Foolish schemes
September 7, 2008 - God’s hand is everywhere
August 24, 2008 - The dance
August 10, 2008 - Strange land
July 27, 2008 - God’s amazing grace
July 13, 2008 - A best seller
June 29, 2008 - My grandfather’s clock and worship
June 1, 2008 - Reclaiming the name
May 4, 2008 - God is not our fairy godmother
April 6, 2008 - Success: what is it and who can measure up?
March 9, 2008 - Need to know
February 10, 2008 - The top three myths of singleness
January 13, 2008 - By invitation only
December 5, 2007 - Yes, Abbie, there is a Jesus
November 18, 2007 - 10 Ways to be a good Christmas customer
October 21, 2007 - The dividing line
September 23, 2007 - What do you fear?
September 9, 2007 - A life well lived
August 26, 2007 - To murmur, or not to murmur
July 29, 2007 - The cross and the Christian
July 15, 2007 - Turning the other cheek: still a valuable biblical principle
July 1, 2007 - Why the tie?
June 3, 2007 - The death of a son
May 6, 2007 - A prayer for the dying
April 8, 2007 - The omnipresent God
March 11, 2007 - Do the Amish have superheroes?
February 11, 2007 - What’s your black history?
January 14, 2007 - The split branch
December 31, 2006 - The house of regret
December 10, 2006 - The redemption of the innkeeper
November 26, 2006 - Too many choices
November 12, 2006 - Break the bashing habit: Learning to love the unsaved like Christ does: November 12, 2006
October 15, 2006 - Be ‘salt and light’ this Christmas!: October 15, 2006
September 17, 2006 - Who is a legalist?: September 17, 2006 Issue 38
July 23, 2006 - God speaks through our brokenness: July 23, 2006 Issue 38
June 25, 2006 - 'What I am looking for in my church leaders'