I have so much going on in my life right now that I don’t
even know where to begin. This past week
I have been preparing our facilities for training camp season. There was a ton of things to do such as,
clean and fill huge water tanks (maybe 2000 gallons), have driveway and parking
lot graveled, set up our huge meeting tent (think circus tent), and basically
fix anything that we need that may have broken since last time we had training
camp. While all of this is going on, I
also had to attend a leadership training to prepare me to lead my trip to the
Amazon Jungles of Peru. I have been
busy, but I do want to try and take the time to catch all of you up on what the
Lord is doing in my life.
On March 30,
I went to the Atlanta Airport to pick up Scott Nelson (my boss). His flight didn’t get in until after 10
p.m. I was running low on gas in my car
when I left my apartment, but I am stubborn and was determined to find a
cheaper price for gas. So I end driving
an hour and have to get off the interstate one exit before the airport to
purchase gas for at least ten cents more per gallon (lesson learned). Anyways, while I was pumping gas a homeless
guy came up to me and tried to get money from me. I told him I didn’t have any cash on me
(which was true)but, I told him that I would love to buy him some food inside
since I had to pay with my debit card. I
asked him what kind of sandwich he wanted to which he responded, “Ham and
cheese.” Then I asked him what his
favorite drink was to which responded, “a Yoo-hoo(brand of chocolate milk).” I then said, “man, I would love to buy you a Yoo-hoo.”
I went
inside and bought him two ham and cheese sandwiches and a Yoo-hoo. I brought them out and gave them to him. When He took them from me I saw the shame in
his eyes as he lowered his head and turned to walk away. I immediately called him back. I asked him to stay to talk to me until I finished
pumping gas. I learned that his name is
Willie Hill. He is thirty-nine was just
recently released from prison, and is currently sleeping in the local cemetery. I looked at him and I told him the
following: Your life matters to me, you
have worth, your life does have meaning and purpose even if you don’t know what
that is right now, I don’t look at you any different and I certainly don’t
think that I am better then you. I believe
that the Lord has a plan for your life and I pray that right now someone would
take a chance on you and give you a job because I know that you are worth
it. I know that I said a whole bunch
more of these things because the Lord was just breaking my heart for Willie
Hill. I told him how much Jesus Christ
loves him and how much he has a plan for Willie’s life. I ended our time by giving him a giant hug
and told him that I loved him and that he has witnessed the Love of Christ
today. Willie just stared at me with
sorrow filled eyes and I can see how the words and the love of Christ were
cutting to the core of his very existence.
I have no idea what has happened to Willie Hill or what the Lord will do
with that, but I do know this, he encountered Jesus that night and he is forever
changed because of that.
So what has
the Lord been teaching me through these times?
He has been teaching me that he doesn’t need my words. Matter of fact, he has grown rather tired of
my words and me talking about my faith.
It is time for action, me telling them about the love of Christ means
nothing, unless I’m willing to take the time and the vulnerability to truly
show them. I know that I showed Willie
Hill the Love of Jesus Christ and I am so pleased that the Lord gave me the
opportunity.
