Last night I took my son, Elijah, to his swimming class at the YMCA. Halfway through the class I noticed a man sitting by himself on one of the benches. It was late in the day and the prospect of sharing the gospel wasn't very appealing at that moment. Besides, the guy was busy watching his daughter swim. 

But I knew this could be someone God wants me to talk to, and if I just took one step that direction maybe He'd show me. And He did. Big time. 

My first step was to sit down near the guy and ask, "Is your kid out there?" "She is," he replied and pointed her out. I returned the favor by telling him which boy was mine. I had no plan or strategy. I just talked. The conversation expanded.

"Last time I was here I brought an article to read while my son swam," I told him, "because I'm working on my doctorate and it requires a lot of reading. But today before we left the house Elijah said, 'Papa, I want Mama to take me instead.'

"And I asked, 'Why?'

"And he said, 'Because last time you were reading instead of watching me.'"

"Ouch!" laughed my new friend. I'll call him Frank.

"Yes, ouch!" I laughed back. "So today I said, 'Elijah, I"m not reading anything at all, let's just go,' and he got a big smile on his face."

At this point I didn't know if the conversation had reached its lifespan. But Frank's curiosity got the better of him and he asked, "Where are you going to school, Western Michigan?" 

When I told him it's a seminary he said, "Oh, one of my relatives is an itinerant preacher. He's a pretty interesting guy. He's not as liberal as the emergent church but he hangs out with me, so I guess he's pretty open minded." 

(Do you see the opportunity? It was bigger than a Los Angeles billboard.)

"Why does hanging out with you make your relative more open minded?" I asked.

"Oh, I'm an atheist." 

This was the first time I met an atheist familiar with the "emergent" term!

From there the conversation took on a different gear. Not any less friendly but about 10 fathoms deeper. I just asked lots of questions and when he could not tell me why rape is wrong, how to make sense of universal laws upon which science depends in an evolution worldview, and why he valued the life of his daughter, I simply explained what the Bible says regarding each of these issues: morality, creation, and the value of life. 

By the end of the conversation, Frank's response almost blew me away, "Well, you might convince me and I am open on these things but I hope you're wrong because if you're not, I have a problem. I have a sex drive and addictions that go along with it, and if you're right then I am going to burn in hell for all eternity and I am not excited about that." His oppeness and honesty about his conviction was remarkable. Very often in conversations like these, unbelievers will feel great conviction but hide it under "intellectualism." 

"In Christ you can be set free from your sexual addiction, Frank, if you turn from your sin and put all your faith in Jesus Christ." He thanked me and as I left I said, "If you're interested, next time we're here I'd love to continue this conversation." 

Pray for Frank. And pray that we take up every opportunity God gives us, even when we don't feel like it. God will honor that because He loves it when we brag about How wonderful He is to others. And next time you see an opportunity to talk to someone, just take one little step that direction, even if it's as simple as sitting down by him.