Mike is leading a group called “International Students, Inc.” that serves the international students at the University of Nevada, Reno. He shared this story in his recent newsletter, and he wanted me to know that he is practicing Ordinary Attempts as a regular part of reaching out to students.

I first met Arsham* at the International Thanksgiving Banquet in November.  That evening, he filled out an interest card to come to one of our follow-up activities.

When Arsham showed up at the Family Game Night, he looked overwhelmed and shy.  His half-smile seemed to try to hide these feelings.  After a few minutes, I tried to find Arsham, but to my surprise, he was gone.  I was wondering what made him want to leave.

A few days after the game night, I contacted him by email.   After several missed attempts we finally met up for lunch.

Arsham was curious about American culture . . . food, dating, movies.  However, he mentioned that he did not like living in Reno, and America in particular.  “What do people do for fun here? Americans seem too busy” he explained.  It was at that point that I realized that what Arsham needs right now is a friend who will listen to him.

I invited him to go hang out with me for a few hours at Grovers Hot Springs.  That day, Arsham told me he is a nominal Muslim and is embarrassed by the fundamentalist movement in Iran which gives Iranians a bad image.  The situation in Iran has caused Arsham to not trust religions.  He is just one person in a growing youth movement in Iran that distrusts the government and traditional ways of life.  Iran, has a government that severely persecutes Christians.  Our conversation about the common ground and differences between Christianity and Islam helped me build a deeper friendship with Arsham.

I pray that this friendship will grow.  I want to show him through my life and conversations what it looks like for someone to truly follow Jesus.  Maybe while studying here, he will move one step closer to God, and change the opinions his Iranian friends and family have about Jesus and his followers, or even become a follower himself.

*Arsham’s name has been changed to protect his privacy.

“What would you do if today was your last day on earth?” It was a provocative ‘what if’ question brought on by our recent viewing of the movie, “Knowing” featuring Nick Cage. I asked it curiously of my eleven-year-old, who gave me a rather odd answer, and then each of us gave our answers around the dinner table elaborating on how we would spend our last day on earth and who with.

This evening, I was thinking more about that little question and I was wondering how I would reflect on my life’s work. I think I would reflect on what I have done for my family, for my community, for the world. I think as we begin to grow older, we stop thinking about what we are trying to accomplish and we tend to start thinking more about what we have accomplished. It’s one of the natural rhythms of life, I suppose, as more life stretches out behind you than before, you find yourself remembering more and planning a little less.

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Many thanks to “Pops” in South Africa for sending this to me via Facebook. He said it made him think of me, by which (I believe) he meant it made him think of what we call the spiritual practice of “noticing” others here in DE Land. Noticing others can be very spiritual (almost like worship), as many have commented. This is pretty cool. Practice noticing people as you watch.

lost in a moment from dennis wheatley on Vimeo.