Have you ever wondered why the word of God says that our thoughts are not God's thoughts and our ways are not God's ways? When we, God's children, take on an attitude of knowing as much or more than he does, it goes without saying that we will act, think, reason and respond in our own understanding rather than that of God's. God's ways are not our ways: he says, love and forgive, we say, stand your ground, get even, make them pay. God says, be kind, others-centered, giving. We advise, say what you've got to say and do what you've got to do to get your point across and if you give, even more will be taken. God says, do unto others just exactly as you would have them do unto you. We say, you're going to get dumped on, you might as well dump first.
Just yesterday, 01-09-2010, I had the opportunity to visit with a street woman named Gloria. I happened to be at the church alone when she happened to finally stop in after walking by on previous occasions. Gloria needed help, she said and wanted to talk to the preacher. Even though she was very anti-preacher, anti-woman and anti-police, she needed help and would take her chances with talking to him. She asked if he was kind and was he easy to talk to. I assured her that he was and she asked if she could wait for him.
Throughout our 45 minute wait, she shared much of her life's story with me: from the days of growing up with a grandmother who loved the silent-motion picture screen to the death of her husband due to cancer just six weeks earlier. She very descriptively told me how preachers didn't want to help her with cash in case she wanted to use it for alcohol. Or how food cupboards wanted to pick-out her food for her even though the hotel she might be staying in only had a microwave therefore, the food needed to be microwaveable. And "a can opener, that would have been out of the question!" she added. She told me how on one occasion a police officer advised her to go to the Sheriff's Dept. to seek help. He didn't offer her a ride, but added that "he was sure she knew the way." As I sat listening, I couldn't help but wonder what this fragile creation of God has endured over her 75 years. I marveled at her knowledge of the big screen giants of yester-year and her accuracy of contextual scripture both memorized and quoted. Although she referred to herself as poor, I saw a woman rich in many ways. As she spoke, I thought. All that she said penetrated my heart and mind. Passing judgment comes easily; would I pass judgment today? Was this just an old woman whose face, lined with the wrinkles of struggle and pain, had become a very crafted con artist? Or, could I be entertaining an angel unaware?
What God whispered in my heart required an act of love and trust, not necessarily for Gloria, but for God. Would I fail the test or would I pass it with God glorifying colors? Would I obey and leave the rest to him? I reached into my pocket and pulled out one of the bills that I happened to have there. And I said, "Gloria, I don't know what kind of help, exactly, that you were going to ask the preacher for today, but I trust this will work." Her face lit up, she kissed the bill, and thanked me.
I invited Gloria to church and then asked her if I could pray with her. She said, "yes," and thanked me again. After we prayed, we stood to walk to the door and Gloria turned to me to say, "Amanda, I think God brought me to you today." I said, "Gloria, I think he did too."
Isn't it amazing how God will allow us to have encounters like this. And think about it, she came into the church....how many others like her are there out there that would not be that bold, or perhaps that desperate that still need what we have to offer...you had the opportunity to "be" the church that day. What a blessing!
ReplyDeleteKaren