by Blythe Daniel @ByltheDaniel

There’s never been more chances to connect with people online, try this event, run to that meeting, and make sure that you don’t miss an opportunity to promote your book, get your name out there, publicize your business, your organization, and advance your mission.

These aren’t bad things are they? It’s just that they take up so much of our time that we miss the real opportunities.

Recently I was at a gathering of writers and hurriedly going down the hallway to find out where I needed to be when. I was coming in a little later than most and felt the need to press forward. A kind gentleman sitting in a chair along my path acknowledged me. I briefly said hello. I didn’t stop.

I’m learning to see the opportunities not to miss. Really, couldn’t I have just acknowledged him and asked a few questions about him rather than just swiftly walk by? 

Turns out I not only did this once, but TWICE and still.. my response the same. And once I finally did talk with him after the THIRD time I saw him in this setting, I got to know some of what this man does. He was someone I wanted to talk with about what he does because it’s one of my passions. But I didn’t allow myself to get there because I was too busy looking for the next opportunity. I almost missed THE opportunity that could have added so much more to the experience of what I do as a writer and literary agent.

I’m guilty of thinking that if I don’t know someone, I can meet them later or that I have to get to that other thing over there rather than slow down and take time to get to know someone I hadn’t planned on meeting that’s not on my schedule.

Don’t miss an opportunity to greet someone you hadn’t planned on seeing.

That’s my big takeaway for myself right now. I know there’s pressure to do, be, find, go, build, speak, and all of the things that we do to engage with people in the community that’s tied to our book, business, and more. Positioning yourself to get to readers. I get it and I often do the same thing.

But are we brushing past people in order to gain more purpose in what we’re building? Whether we’re building a tribe of people to acknowledge us, building a business, building an online following.

What does it gain us if we can’t speak to the people right next to us or in our path? 

A few weeks ago, I was driving into my parents’ neighborhood and saw my parents’ neighbor that we’ve known for as long as I can remember. I remember selling Girl Scout Cookies to her, and probably wrapping paper for some school project and I’m sure a host of other things. When I saw her outside her house coming in from a walk, I stopped the car and rolled down the window and called out to her. We talked for a while about several things. I remember her affirmations of me coming to visit my parents. We talked about how when we get older we need more care and attention. She encouraged me and told me how much she cares about my parents. The next day she wrote me an email and part of it said: “You are being an example to your children and other family members, friends, and perhaps those you aren’t aware of. The sacrifice you and they are experiencing is what you do when the ones you love need you. Love is sacrifice.”

Today I found out that our friend is in Heaven. I’m sad that the world has lost this person whose health declined when we weren’t prepared for it. But I’m so glad that I stopped to talk with her when I did.

What stands out to me is that when we stop to talk to others, we take pieces of wisdom from them. It’s not about what we’ll gain in any way other than wisdom and love. When we stop to acknowledge someone, we see their perspective. We get to know who they are. It’s more important sometimes that they get to speak to us than even our speaking to them!

Perhaps I’m writing this message to myself to help ease my heart with the loss of our friend. And to realize that I don’t want to miss another opportunity to meet someone I didn’t expect to see or meet in my path.

I want to be a path-finder – someone who looks out for the unexpected person on my path. And to stop and greet them and not be too busy trying to make the next thing on my schedule, create the next opportunity, and such. 

What about you? Are you looking for the next opportunity to reach out to the person you run into?

Let’s be men and women who don’t miss an opportunity to share time and our hearts right where we need to be. If someone acknowledges us, let’s acknowledge them in return. For I believe that’s where God would have us focus and the rest will come in His timing, and in His ways.

Blythe Daniel is a literary agent and marketer and has been in publishing for over 20 years. She has written for Proverbs 31 Ministries, Focus on the Family, Ann Voskamp, and Christian Retailing. She and her mother Dr. Helen McIntosh are the authors of Mended: Restoring the Hearts of Mothers and Daughters (Harvest House Publishers).

www.theblythedanielagency.com; www.ourmendedhearts.com