This weekend I’ll participate in another blind date. Yes, I’m leery, as dating is awkward at best in this day and age. But, as long as I have friends who fantasize about me meeting the right woman in a special way, I’ll probably continue to find myself taking a leap into the unknown out of respect.

I’m not sure why people don’t just introduce me to their friend, rather than turning it into a dramatic moment almost sure to crash and burn. Either way, matchmaking is a dying art form with a third of all first dates being generated from website connections.

This crazy world we live in has changed the landscape of new dating relationships. Prior to a date, women typically google their potential man to learn about him. She wants key questions answered like, does he have a job, is he surrounded by good friends, does he have a healthy spiritual side, or, is he an axe murder?

But in a blind date, there is an element that requires a leap of faith or tremendous trust in the friend setting you up. Sometimes the effort is rewarded, but most times your friend is just trying to use your niceties to help out a lonely woman who talks daily to her seven cats – Yes, I’ve been on those type of dates (Where do you think I got the idea for the seven cats). What’s funny is that people remind me that a date with a cat woman is far better than sitting at home alone. I’m not sure I agree, when I could be spending time writing.

Tomorrow’s date will certainly take a leap of faith, which could be a good thing. Putting trust into a friend might help me get another perspective on how important it is to trust in God as I walk by faith. While tomorrow night might reveal my friend’s failure at matchmaking, God will own and possibly redeem the moment for His purposes.

I call these moments, “divine appointments.” They are times when we walk by faith trusting that God will bring about good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. They are the times when we live by faith, not by sight – Always trusting that God will bring about that greater good.

This perspective suggests that my worst-case scenario for tomorrow night will be a God moment where I can encourage someone. The best case is finding a life partner or a great friend. Either way I win, as I walk by faith during my blind date.

Copyright © 2011 By CJ Powers

Photo: © detailblick – Fotolia.com

Mid week I had to commute to Northfield on an overcast day where tall buildings dissipated into the low hanging clouds. Cars speeding past me disappeared into oblivion and the dreariness of the day had me focused on other drivers. Without notice, I came upon a car traveling without lights and well below the speed limit.

I was curious as to why the driver never turned on his or her lights, until I noticed the car weave back and forth, drifting into other lanes. I was concerned that the driver had been drinking, but the sporadic steering wasn’t fluid like someone who was stoned or drunk. I decided to pass the person and get as far away as possible.

The risk of passing was high due to the car’s horizontal movements. It made me wonder if the driver was texting – Definitely a car to avoid. As I prayed for the driver and the safety of those around, I pulled along side and found the woman putting on her make-up.

My visceral response was to think she was an idiot for putting all the drivers around her at risk. Then I remembered a certain Bible verse.

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.      Matthew 7:2


I realized that I was no better or different than her, except for the make-up. In the past, I too found myself weave slightly while reading a map, dialing a phone, or even looking for the right tune to play on my iPod. And, if I condemned her for the act, I’d be condemning myself for the multiple times I did the same. Ouch.

That’s not to say she wasn’t wrong, but it does speak to whether or not I’m judging the person or the behavior. Anyone in their right mind could see that she was endangering several of us as she primped at 50 mph. However, that doesn’t make her a bad person, but rather suggests she made a bad choice.

The driving behavior she demonstrated was not only unhealthy, but also dangerous. It was a behavior that put others in jeopardy and didn’t suggest any level of concern or compassion for those driving around her. She clearly wasn’t demonstrating road etiquette.

The only good I saw come from the experience was my new list of how to judge an idiotic driver:

1. Judge the behavior, not the person.
2. Pray for their safety and those around rather than condemning them.
3. Don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought (After all, you’ve done the same at one point or another).
4. Tap your horn lightly or flash your headlights to help the person realize others are on the street with him or her.

Coming upon a person driving without lights and oblivious to his or her own swerving is discomforting to say the least, but the ramifications of judging ourselves by condemning someone else are far worse. So, going forward, I’ll judge the behavior and not the person.

In other words, there are no idiotic drivers, just people making bad choices as they cruise down the highway.