A couple months ago, I met Jason, one of my co-workers and friends, at Iron Bank to do some work. At the end of our meeting, I gathered my belongings, put on my purse, and started to cross the street. As I was walking, I noticed a woman who often bikes around the neighborhood. Her face bore the mark of sadness; I struggled inwardly with the decision of whether to stop and check in on her or not. I really needed to eat something, which may seem trivially to most, but having digestive issues, the consumption of food and the timing of it is very important for me.

As I pondered turning back or not (I had at this point made it across the median to the other side of the street), I looked back to see Jason talking with the woman. I knew if he saw her, he would stop and ask her how she was doing and pray with her, and without missing a beat, he had done that very thing. I was glad he could stop and be there for her even if I could not.

Thankful as I was for Jason coming behind me to check in on the woman, it challenged me to stop in my daily flow of life and check in on others. We so often think, in order to give someone love or to share Christ with someone, we have to go out of our way to do so. But there are plenty of people to meet, encourage, and share Christ with, within our daily grind!

I know what you’re thinking. I don’t have time to stop for the woman on the street even if I wanted to! I get it. I understand. Sometimes when we have to go, we have to go. But I challenge you to focus in on the Lord and ask Him for one person you can touch this week. Think about and write out the places you know you will go this week. Who will you see? The grocer in the checkout line? The barista making your coffee? A friend working on a project? Maybe the Lord will give you a name or a piece of clothing to look out for. Write it down. Spend a little time in prayer for them. Perhaps ask the Lord about what they need and what would bless them. Then go about your day.

Ideas for how you can Focus on the One:

Need ideas for how to bless them? Check out these ideas:

• Write someone an encouraging note
• Pray for someone
• Get to know your grocer; talk to him or her every time you are there (I personally do this, and it is so much fun!)
• Smile
• Give someone a hug or high-five
• Hold the door open for someone
• Pay for someone’s lunch & say Jesus loves me so much that I just want to give my heart away and bless you!
• Invite someone to lunch

Focusing on the One can change the lives all around you.

It may not seem like much to you, to smile or wave or hug someone, but it may be the very thing that helps others keep going.

Jesus knew the power of word and deed and walked it out. He stopped to talk with the woman at the well. He touched the beggar’s eyes and healed his sight. He spoke only but a few words to the centurion, and the daughter was healed.

So who is your one? Who is the Lord showing you? The woman at Starbucks? The mechanic fixing your car? The person in the checkout line? Find your one. It may be one a day or one per week. But we are all made with purpose. We can all touch the one.