The Right Time is now!

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the joy of being at "the right place at the right time" and what that is.  I wonder how much control anyone has in setting herself up to be in the right place at the right time.  You certainly have control over initiating something like a confrontation you need to have and making whatever time there is, the right time.

No one can control all the elements that make up what’s so called, “the right time”, but there are aspects you can control. Not letting a chance get away from you without acting on it, is what taking opportunity is all about.

I believe “the right time” is the crossroad between someone’s heightened need and someone’s willingness to supply that need.  Typically, we call that “opportunity” or “chance”; God calls it “the right time”.

If you have a conflict with someone at work or school and you see them in the cafeteria during lunch, you might think that the subject’s need is to have his overinflated ego brought down to size and you’re just the person to meet that need.  That kind of thinking with set you both up for an ugly confrontation with undesirable results! The outcome is likely to be better if you see the other person’s need as something not born of your negative judgment.  It’s more likely the person wants appreciation for the work he’s done.  If you can meet that need by simply expressing your appreciation, you will likely get to watch the overinflated ego diminish on its own.

Spiritually speaking, God did a similar thing with humanity.  When we were at the height of sinful living, rather than shake a heavenly finger at us and say, “You all need to change your ways”; he made a human version of himself, walked in our shoes, and sacrificed himself for us that we might be forgiven.

God met our need, but with an act of love rather than chastisement.  I’m not your mom, so I’m not going to tell you what to do, but imagine what kind of world this would be if we all met needs with acts of love.

I certainly can recall times when help came right when I needed it.  Sometimes offers of help come when you don't need it as much and that's still appreciated, but that help that comes at the pinnacle of your need...that changes you.  Can you remember a time when assistance came just in the nick of time?