On Sunday, some people on our squad decided to pitch in money for a bus into town for internet. There were around 40 of us who went. So we left about 1pm, got there about 1:30 and the bus was supposed to be there to pick us up at 6:30 in between Burger King and Pizza Hut. That's right, folks. American food at its finest. The day was a serious blessing in many forms. I was able to talk to those I didn't get a chance to talk to on the Friday before and I just had a great time catching up with a few people back home. Well, we got back to our meeting place for the bus to pick us up at 6:15, on time. 6:30 rolls around and the bus that was supposed to pick us up was not there, but there was a man that was there at 6:30.
I don't know his name.
I don't know what he really wanted.
I don't know his story.
I was being protected. The guys were very quick to form a force field around us girls, and rightfully so, I suppose. Here we are about 25 to 30 girls surrounded by our awesome men who do such a great job at preferring us and keeping our safety as first priority.
I had heard that this man looked drugged up and was asking for money for food, which instead was assumed to be for drugs. He just sat there on the ground, while we didn't really acknowledge him.
And something inside of me snapped almost. I began to think of protection and what it meant during that time. It was so great and honorable for the men to step up and protect, but who was going to be there to protect the man? I wanted to go buy him food, but instead I prayed that someone would come along who would be able to take the opportunity to protect him, to serve him, to cater to his immediate needs. And all the while I thought of how I could easily have done that. I could have easily went into Burger King, purchased from the value menu, and brought it back to him. Would it have done any good? Maybe, maybe not, but at least I would have been able to say that I acted.
And then I thought of what it means to be like Jesus. What would Jesus have done in that moment?
From reading alot in the Gospels lately, I think Jesus would have at least prayed for him to his face. Perhaps it would have been a woman at the well moment where He would have told the man that he was free from his drug addiction and to go out and sin no more.
And the last question that went through my mind as I was getting on the bus that in fact arrived at 6:45p was:
When are we going to stop living out of natural protection and start acting upon the protection that we have with our Father? God doesn't call us into safe places sometimes, but He makes the places safe for us to answer His call.
I don't want to ever get too comfortable or too safe for that.
Financial update: I still need about $1700 to be fully funded! Please consider supporting me if you haven't yet!
