I’ve just run across a holy moment that’s too good not to share. My friend Mateen Elass was Minister of Adult Education at First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs, back in the late 1990s. He went on to several different pastorates and returned to Colorado Springs in 2015 to work with Voice of Truth, an outreach ministry to Arabs. Why? Here’s the beginning of his bio:

What are the odds that a son born to a Muslim father, raised for more than a decade in Saudi Arabia, schooled in western philosophy and psychology, and then trained in eastern mysticism, should become a resolute Christian and ambassador of the gospel? Small odds indeed, when counted by human probability. But Dr. Mateen Elass sees this prelude to his  ministry as witness to the amazing power of God to find and call His children to service-regardless of the odds. – Read the rest of his bio here.

Anyway, here’s this brilliant guy with a degree from Stanford, two master’s degrees and a doctorate, and he’s the nicest, most humble man. Here’s his blog entry from May 7, 2025, a holy moment. He calls it “A Simple Gift.”

This last Monday, I was traveling to an Arab pastors conference in NC with coworkers and friends. On a shuttle from long-term parking to the Denver airport, we met a very friendly and talkative Ghanaian driver, Isaac. He couldn’t have been more polite or helpful. We were all quite impressed with his warmth and expression of faith.

Having my cell phone in hand, I decided to look up quickly how to say “thank you” in his mother tongue of Ashanti. Not sure how to pronounce “Meda wo ase”, I clicked on the audio and practiced a few times. As we arrived at the terminal, everyone started piling out and our driver helped offload bags with a ready smile. I was the last one off. I shook his hand and said, “Meda wo ase, Isaac!”

What happened next was like fireworks going off. His face lit up and his smile grew even bigger. Continuing to hold my hand, he slapped me on the chest and said excitedly, “You’ve been to Ghana before?”

“No, never,” I answered. “I just learned how to say thank you in your language because you’ve been so kind to us.”

“I can’t believe it. I never expected to hear my language from an American,” he said. “This is a great gift to me! Thank you for making my day.”

All from a simple gesture of thoughtful gratitude. We never know much we may impact a new acquaintance by taking a bit of time to find a bridge to connect with them in unexpected ways. I know that I always appreciate hearing English unexpectedly when in a foreign country.

What fun to bring joy to another’s day with a simple act of kindness. Perhaps you’ll find a way to bless someone else this day, and find your own joy doubled in the process!

Amen.

As he went along, he saw a man… (John 9.1, NIV)

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good… (Titus 3.14, NIV)