Run, run, run! If this week had a theme, it would surely be that. I am off this week, as I am for one week each month. My schedule is difficult going between twelve-hour days and nights all the time, but the perk of it all is that I get a week off each month. Now, my wife works at a private Christian Prep. School, and this is their “craziest” time of year as they begin school tomorrow and they are trying to prepare for the kids. So, since I have free time, and they need bodies, I have been working for my wife this week.
Before I began yesterday, I had a couple of errands to run. I would be power washing the sidewalks and breezeways at the school, so I first picked up a power-washer and began to head over to the school. Knowing it would be a long day, I decided to stop and get a snack and an iced tea at a fast food joint. I entered and found something fairly healthy on the menu, ordered and then waited for it to come up. As I did, I looked around and noticed a man in a booth, he had a medium drink and nothing else, but there was something different about him, and I felt the first tug in my heart. He had snow-white hair and a matching beard and was wearing a panama style hat. He was wearing a light jacket, which was a bit odd, because after all, this is Phoenix in the summer. He sat there chomping ice and looking around, occasionally breaking out in a wide grin at no one in particular. He was right next to the iced tea, and as I filled my cup, the voice of the Spirit kept telling me I needed to interact with him. Okay I thought, but how, what’s my opener, how do I get started. As I puzzled over this, he looked directly at me and I said, “Hey, how’s it going”? He smiled warmly and said “good, and you”.
We chatted for a few minutes, and I asked him if he had eaten, he said no, so I asked if he was hungry and he said yes. I ordered three taco bell burritos and returned to the table. I handed the food off to him, thinking I was fulfilling the spirits leading, but the message that returned to me was “you’re not finished yet mister”. I stood and chatted with the man for a minute or two, but I felt led to ask if I could sit and have lunch with him, to which he said sure and waved to the bench across from him. I shook his hand, and he introduced himself as Cooper. We sat and talked, he told me he was originally from the San Francisco “bay area”, and he had lived and worked up the west coast. “Coop” told me he played guitar and drums, that he had gotten tired of a “fast paced” life, now he just carried around a backpack. He was eventually headed in the direction of Vegas. He then mentioned his faith a bit, and cited a couple of scriptures that inspired him.
Unbeknownst to me, a couple at the next table had been watching us. They came to our table and were on the brink of tears as they gave Cooper all the money they had, and told him that if he had a need, their church down the road would be more than willing to help. Cooper smiled and thanked them warmly. After an half hour or so, I said goodbye, shook his hand and left, grateful for the meeting and for being steered to him.
Later as I worked the power washer cleaning the school grounds, I kept thinking about Cooper and wondering what lesson the Spirit had led me to. I decided that it was probably several, but one that came to the forefront in my mind is that we are always being watched. Because Cooper didn’t stand out as a homeless guy, if I had I not spoken to him, the young couple would not have overheard, and wouldn’t have been convicted in their heart to help him. A spiritual butterfly effect of sorts.
By the time I hung it up for the day, it was eleven PM and I was physically exhausted. My worn out wife and I took off for home at the same time, and I decided to stop and get a Gatorade at a convenience store. As I exited the store, I noticed a large man pushing a walker across the small parking lot toward me, and lesson number two began. He was still quite a ways from me as he shouted out ”Hey, excuse me sir, you are a follower of Christ aren’t you”? I stopped and looked at him, probably a deer in the headlights look on my face as I said yes and nodded. As he approached me slowly I noticed his eyes were wet and slightly red. He said he knew I was before he even asked.
Now, the selfish me was thinking, “man, I just want to drink my Gatorade, drive home, shower and sack out”. But inside I heard that inner voice that comes from somewhere deep in my chest that said “you better be listening, this is important”.
The man told me that he was just released from the hospital, and his hospital wristband verified that. A week and a half prior, he had a heart attack and had nearly died. He was a single father, with two teen girls. They lived a hundred and twenty miles away, and he needed to get back home. He had somehow lost or misplaced his wallet, and all he had was ten bucks and his car was on empty. I began to feel the cynical inner voice questioning the validity of his story as the cynical voice was challenged by the voice of the Spirit asking, “Who are you to judge”? What he said next rocked my world.
He said that he had tried to call several of his friends for help, and wasn’t able to reach anyone. He was desperate, and had broken down crying, as his daughter had spoken with him on the phone and told him that there was not one crumb of food left in their home, and he didn’t even have enough gas to get there. He cried out to the Lord for help and the Holy Spirit spoke to him. It was placed on his heart to get out of his car, walk to the front of the store, and the next man who comes out the door will be a man of God. That man will take care of his need. Tears streamed down his face as he related this story to me, and goose-bumps broke out over my body as I knew he was speaking from his heart, verified by the Spirit in my own heart.
I told him I would no doubt help him, and then I asked him to wait as I returned into the store. For the second time in a day, I felt the Spirit leading me. As I mentally thought about how much I should decide to give, I knew I was being called to truly “help” this man.
As I waited in the store for the clerk to process my request, a young lady came up to me and asked what that man in the parking lot wanted, true concern etched on her face. I said that he just needed a little help, and compassion replaced concern as her eyes watered up, the second time in a day I had seen that same response. She then left and went out and spoke to him. I don’t know what she said, but she was gone by the time I got back outside. He and I talked for a few more minutes, and it turned out one of the friends he had tried to contact I knew. He then asked me if I would pray with him, right there in the parking lot and I said yes. So I placed an arm around his shoulder, as he did mine, and Michael and I went to the Lord.
Later that night, as I finally lay down to sleep, I reflected on the day’s lessons. I thought about the two kind-hearted people I had met today, and how I had left them feeling as though I was the one being blessed. It was a great last thought to the day as I drifted off to sleep. God Bless-JFT
What a moving story–you’re really an inspiration to put others first and give of ourselves each day. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you,
Welcome and thanks for stopping by and for your kind words, It was a really good day, and I was glad God put me where He did, I was the blessed one. God Bless
Jim
It sounds like a heavenly great day to me. Good going, pardner!
Thanks Larry,
It was pretty a pretty awesome day.
What a day! You are encouraging us to keep walking in the Spirit and listening to His voice . . .and asking Him to lead us to people who need Him.
God bless you and those dear people you connected with!
Thanks Deb,
It was a great day, and for me it was all about choices. Busy day, and I was running behind,, but do I dare ignore that little voice, you know. God is good!
God Bless-Jim
Jim, What a great testimony of the blessings we received when we listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The memory of this day will last a lifetime and into eternity, where the story is already being retold of your willingness to serve. Thanks for sharing. Peace, Linda
Thanks Linda,
I was the one who was blessed, and I am grateful that God sent me there. God Bless
Jim