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By R.A. Mathews

It happened last week. I was at the scene of a rather major accident. In fact, I caused it. But I wasn’t alone — there was clearly another party who had instigated the collision.

It didn’t help that I was sleepy and not thinking clearly. Really, I was hardly thinking at all. I feel certain that contributed to the accident.

I awoke early and needed to resolve a matter, so I was on the phone with customer service, a very nice woman in India. But she kept putting me on hold and well over an hour had passed. 

Finally, as it was getting close to nine o’clock and I was on hold yet again, I realized that I had another commitment. But getting anyone on the phone with this company was a miracle, so I didn’t want to leave.

How important was my commitment? 

I sing praise to the Lord seven times a day, like David and the early church. Nine o’clock is one of those times.

“Lord,” I said, “I promise I will praise you just as soon as I get this resolved.” I didn’t finish the prayer. I was sleepy, as I said, and began to sing praise right then, realizing there was nothing in my way. I could sing quietly and stop when she returned. 

So, I began with the first hymn that came to mind: “He lives, He Lives, Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.”

As I sang, I remember thinking that songs are often three minutes long, and hold times are about the same, so this would work out perfectly.

Sure enough, as soon as I finished, I heard her come on the line. But I didn’t expect the words she spoke.

“That was so beautiful,” she said, her voice filled with emotion.

I was a tiny bit embarrassed and laughed. “I thought I was on hold.”

“I know. I am waiting, too.”

“Are you a Christian?” I asked, never missing an opportunity to talk about the Lord.

“I cannot say,” she responded, very politely.

But, probably not, I thought. According to a Pew Research Center report in 2011, nearly 80% of India follows the Hindu faith, roughly 14% are Muslim and just over 2% are Christian. 

I was alert now. In my head, I ran back through the words I had just sung. 

“I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today.” I sang. “I know that He is living, whatever men may say. I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer. And just the time I need Him, He’s always near. He lives! He lives!”

I could tell from the emotion in her voice that the song had moved her. Not the music. Not my voice. The words about Jesus. 

I was at the scene of a major collision—an accidental witnessing.

“Jesus — the hound of heaven” was an expression used in seminary that comes from a 19th Century poem written by Francis Thompson. I didn’t like it very well—the idea of Jesus referred to as a dog. On the other hand, the point is amazing — you can’t get away from a bloodhound who’s trailing you. If God is after you, you’ll know it.

And there’s Scripture to support the idea. 

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? 

“Or where can I flee from Your presence?

“If I ascend to heaven, You are there;

“If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.

“If I take up the wings of the dawn . . .

“Your right hand will take hold of me.” (Psalm 139:7-10)

I can still hear the longing in the woman’s voice when I finished singing. And I wondered, “Is God after her? Did He place me in her path to say, ‘He lives! He walks with me?’”

I know well over 100 hymns, songs like “Morning Has Broken” and “I’ll Fly Away.” But “He Lives” is one of the most fun and yet meaningful of all of them. As I said, clearly, I wasn’t alone at the scene of this accident. Another party had instigated the collision.

Understand that these can be powerful moments, simply because they’re unexpected. The Indian woman didn’t have her guard up, protecting herself from someone trying to change her. Instead, her mind and her heart were open as she heard the words, “He lives!”

Then she had the choice to remain silent, obviously aware that I didn’t know she was also on hold. But joy rushed from her, an emotion she didn’t want to control. “That was so beautiful,” she said.

The way you carry yourself, the way you live your life, can have the greatest impact on one who needs Jesus. Remember this. 

Everywhere you go, may accidents and collisions follow.

The Rev. Mathews (BA, MDiv, JD) is a faith columnist and the author of Reaching to God and Emerald Coast: The Vendetta. Contact her at Hello@RAMathews.com. 

Copyright © 2024 R.A. Mathews. All rights reserved.