“The work of [The LORD’s] hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness.” ~Ps. 111:7-8
Wow! It has been quite the number of weeks the last while! Some fairly intense things have happened along with some pretty cool things. As I am not currently connected to the internet so I’m not sure when the last time I wrote was, I’ll just write about the last couple of weeks...
Just before the beginning of July I went out to Saskatchewan for a surprise visit... I spoke at a cabin retreat for the Lost River youth group I lead for awhile and who have a part of my heart. The Lord showed me His faithfulness as I worked on preparing the messages (they were just in time and fell together wonderfully). I spoke on our desires and the need for our longing to be after God not the mirages and “broken cisterns” of life (A message I was/am needing these days). It was a great time connecting and hanging out with some pretty special people I got to know previously. That time was followed with a trip to Nipawin, Melfort and Lost River area visiting with some of the wonderful people I got to know during my time out there. I had a lot of fun playing soccer, River canoeing, watching fireworks, and talking with others.
Let me tell you a story! It is not one you have heard yet as I have only eluded it to one person so far... Actually I feel like making a number of disclaimers here but... oh well... On my trip home from Saskatchewan (a long trip to be sure) I ended up picking up two hitch hikers (not something I necessarily encourage). The first one was an older (middle aged) naive guy I picked up right after P.A. and drove to Shellbrook for a doctor’s appointment. We talked of the N.C.E.M mission near there and he said he listened to their program sometimes... It was good to talk with him and offer a ride as I tried to encourage him along the path God was trying to guide him down... The next hiker was a little more “interesting”... I picked him up shortly after I dropped the other guy off, just after Shellbrook. Let me give you some “advise”... 1.you shouldn’t normally pick up hitchhikers and 2.the other thing... if you do and they ask were your headed don’t say something like “Edmonton (6 hours away)” say something more like “where are you going? I can drop you off maybe in an hour or so...” Unless you’re ready for a long trip! No one ever gave me that advise (the latter)...
So the Hitchhiker (his name is Don) said, “Where are you going?” and I said “Edmonton”... then he said “ME TOO!” ...sigh. (I suppose if I were to follow the Biblical example of “going the extra mile” I should have dropped him off in say Price George, B.C. but I’m not sure he would have appreciated it, plus... 6 hours was long enough). I got to know Don a bit during our time together... be it through his signing to the music while he was not quite half awake; his continuous talking about whatever; his potty breaks in places others would not normally go (at least during daylight hours); or his mistaking a guy in a vehicle next to ours for a girl and calling him “good looking” (my words,) along with Don’s colourful language when he found out it was not in fact a female... You know what really strikes me about Don though... God loves him soooo much! I thought of Don after this time together and I’m quite glad for the opportunity the Lord gave to me in meeting with him... What a blessing it is to be able to do something even so small as that for the Lord! To do something small as that for someone... for anyone! Don is a guy who’s lonely and searching... there are many many more people just like him. Different faces, different names, the same depth of love from the Lord... Maybe we should do more than just think about loving people (namely the “Don’s”) and start actually doing it and rejoicing in the opportunities the Lord gives us to do so.
I would love to write more but I think I should end on that note...
“...The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’... He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” ~Mt. 25:40,45
3 comments:
"Hitch hikers may be escaping inmates"
Nice sign.
The last time I picked up a hitch hiker I learned experientially that they may be former inmates. I almost considered never picking one up again, or at least judging their appearance a little more harshly before I did. Hitch hikers make long road trips go so much faster. (Not just because I pray for life safety the whole time.) They give me someone to talk to. (The radio tends to be fairly non responsive. I have a hard time living for five to seven hours without verbal interaction.) Seriously though, it is as you said, God loves them. And, unless they are simply seeking adventure, people have to be in a pretty rough situation to hitch hike, without a ride, without money to take the bus, sometimes without food, usually without faith.
That's all.
hey paul, i love the hitch hiker story :) It does feel good to help someone out tho - in what seems like such a small way.. and no I would never pick up a hitch hiker - I'll leave that to you guys :) but when my husband is driving alone I know he does sometimes because he has been there - he has been to the bottom with nothing to his name, no food, no money, no faith (as mentioned).. but with faith, the other things have followed and his life has been changed :) who knows what may come of your ministry...
Hey Paul,
I agree with the second comment, I will leave the hitch-hiker pick-up to my husband and other guys, but I'm glad you took the opportunity to show the love of God, you never know what might become of a seed planted.
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