My first instinct was to walk faster. After arguing with the cashier at Dollar General about being able to buy cell phone minutes with a money order, this rough-looking-young man stood outside the Dollar Store. Eyeing me as I came to the door, I knew the conversation that awaited me when I finished shopping. Sure enough, as I started walking toward my truck, I heard, “Hey man…” I felt my eyes roll back, as he circled around to the driver’s side door and said, “I just sold some speakers, and I guess they won’t cash a money order, so I’m (expletive) on gas for the day. Can you help?”
In my mind I was having this dialogue: “Are you kidding me? I just heard you trying to buy cell phone minutes, and now you say you need gas money? Seriously, you‘re asking me to help you?” I said to the guy, “Nope.” I mean, COME ON…right?
Then, I got this feeling. The nearest way I can describe it…is that it’s like the few seconds of confusion that come during a mountain bike crash. My mind’s thinking, “Am I getting up from this one?” Then, as I lay there on the trail, there’s this eerie calm where everything has come to rest, and my stupidity is clear.
I shut the door on my truck and sat there thinking: “You’re an idiot!” This is the guy that was going from Jerusalem to Jericho in Luke 10:30. He’s fell on some hard times, maybe he’s strung out on meth or some other drug…but he just asked me for help! I pulled out of my parking space and passed by on the other side of his car and thought to myself, “You’re just like the priest who passed by on the other side!” I’m the preacher at a church a mile down the road, and I just left the guy in the Dollar Store parking lot. “Go and do likewise,” just gut-punched me harder than an MMA fighter (Luke 10:37).
Opportunities to help others see Christ show up every day. Sometimes we get it right…sometimes we don’t. Lord, forgive me for the times I just don’t get it.
ok so I was kind of upset b/c I figured since you were the preacher you should have went to check on the homeless man I told you about, but as I thought about it I could have done anything you might have done. So, I'm sorry....lol. I like this post and trust me you are a great preacher and everyone at Union Hill loves you ;)
ReplyDeletethnx christina
ReplyDeleteAs I travel ALOT I see this kind of thing all the time and like you I have to make that concious decision more often than I like. I have finally come to a decision that makes my mind and soul get along. I will always try to take the person to get gas in the tank or to get food in their stomach or to actually get them a sack of grocerys or clothes or whatever but never just give them cash. In your situation I would put some gas in and maybe take the check {or not}. Irrelivant at that point. Yes, you are a great preacher with a HUGE soft heart. Bobby E.
ReplyDelete