More Than a Passion for Fashion

Within the first few moments of arriving at the Westview Baptist Women's Retreat at Pioneer Lodge, I met a woman who had heard me speak before. She said, "I don't remember anything you said but you were all dressed in pink. Even your toenails were painted pink." I jokingly responded that I must be far more depressed now, since I was dressed that day head to toe in black. Now, I like to look as good as the next woman. But the thought that the only impression left on this lady from our previous encounter, years earlier, had to do with my outfit - that was a discouraging way to begin this retreat.

It was a small group and I had the opportunity to sit down with a few of the women one on one and hear how God was using my talks to intersect their stories. Four communicated that they had entered into a new relationship or new depth of relationship with Christ. And before I left, the same woman who greeted me with the fashion commentary approached me again. She said, "Every word you spoke this weekend was for me. Each of your talks directly addressed what is going on in my life. God used you to speak to me."

I don't really care if this woman remembers me or my wardrobe the next time we meet. My prayer is that she remembers the specific ways God spoke to her. That He knows what's going in in her life and cares enough to address her needs personally - even through a speaker with a passion for fashion.