Sometimes, conversions are connected.

Yes, in this turn-around moment, God changed the world. God molded communities. God is molding you right now. So certainly, this mysterious, miraculous moment on a simple road to Damascus, affected history and shaped lives in a broad and sweeping way. Acts 9:1-20

But beyond the dramatic and broad sweeping aspects of this story, what about some of the more subtle effects? God works in between the lines too, in between the major milestones, in between the major turn-arounds of your life.

Poor Ananias. Can you imagine? Ananias hears the call of Christ to do something absolutely illogical. And it wasn’t just illogical. It was potentially dangerous. Saul had a reputation. Ananias realized what the consequences of his actions might be. Going to Saul, he was risking his future, his freedom, his safety. And he was risking the future, freedom, and safety of his Christian community as well.

And yes, in addition to being dangerous, this action was illogical. “Saul? Wait a minute. Saul? You want me to go and seek the man who has been seeking to kill us? And then you want me to identify myself as your follower and heal him? You want me to trust him? You want me to trust his words and intentions? You want me set him free, and simply trust that he is who you’ve named him to be?”

This call was dangerous and unreasonable enough for Ananias to question Jesus. But Jesus tells Ananias that he has visions larger and more incredible than Ananias can possibly wrap his mind around. He follows the call. He seeks out his enemy to heal him and send him in the right direction.

Sometimes, conversions are connected. Sometimes when others have had a ‘turn-around’ moment, you too are sent in another direction. You live in a life of relationships. Your healing is bound up in the healing of others. Your conversions – your directions, your turn-around moments – are bound up in the conversions of others.

So Ananias is converted too. He seeks out Saul in the house of Judas, and he obeys God. And he too probably had a change of heart on that road. Did you notice the first thing Ananias says to the man who has been his enemy? Did you notice the first words out of his mouth?

“Brother Saul.” He addresses his former enemy as his brother. Saul’s conversion on the Road to Damascus was dramatic and beyond anything that many have experienced. But conversions aren’t always dramatic. Sometimes they are faint and unnoticed. Sometimes God is working on the inside as much as God is working on the outside. Saul had a turn-around moment. So did Ananias.

And that leads to a question for you. You might not have seen a flashing light and audibly hear the voice of God on a regular basis. But because you believe in God who works intimately and He exists in all parts of the created universe and lives within you, you can be assured that He is turning you around, sending you in new directions all the time. Here’s the question: How is God turning you around these days, and what directions are being envisioned for you to follow?

Sometimes, seemingly insignificant moments can send you in profoundly significant directions. In so many ways, he raised you, and you would not be the person you are today had you not experienced the depth of the love he has for you.

In some ways, your experiences of love with others and the different paths of your life was the flashing light and the holy voice you needed, because of your experiences God has sent you in more positive directions than you could have anticipated. He has taught you by experiencing those who try to do right and those who follow the way of the world.