I can’t get what happened to Jory and I out of my mind so I thought I would share.
Jory and I had just gotten to Niagara Falls (Oh Yea). We checked into our hotel and dropped off our bags and decided to head out to see the falls. As soon as we stepped out of the parking lot and turn the corner we walk past this old black man. We say hi to him and ask how he is doing. He says hi and asks how we are back and as soon as you think the exchange is over he is flagging us back down. He goes on to tell us not to be scared that he won’t hurt us and that earlier a woman had called him something very rude that I won’t repeat, but was totally undeserving of this sweet man. He explained to us how he had just gotten out of prison and needed an address to go on welfare. The shelter down the road had no vacancies and he got kicked out of the park for sleeping under a tree. The YMCA would rent him a room for $14 and allow him to use their address in order to file for welfare. His problem was he did not have the money to rent the room.
So now you expect this man to ask you for money so he can go on his way and get this room (if this whole story is real) and be done with it. BUT there was so much more to this exchange. As he slowly started to get choked up this man continued explaining his situation to us. How hard it was for him, a man with such pride, to ask for money. A tear began to run down his cheek, as he was overcome by such emotion. Jory opened up his wallet and instead of giving the man a couple of the loose $1’s he had he handed him a $20. Tears started pouring down his face as Jory spoke words of encouragement to him. He hugged Jory and then turned and hugged me. There was something about this man in his old black shirt, pants and orange shoes. His whole story and appearance and everything on the surface just vanished and I didn’t want to let go of him. I just held onto him, doing the only thing I knew to do in the moment… show him love and affection. Even if his story was real or made up that man needed something way more than money. He was longing for someone just to show him love. For someone to not pass judgment based on his looks or his past. God put Jory and I in that spot that day for that very reason and it has touched me forever. I wish I knew what happened to him. Part of me really wants to go back and find him and just remind him again how much he is loved. I can’t help but think about what a preview of the race that was for Jory and I and how God was really showing me what he has called me specifically to do on the race. It’s amazing the ways that he speaks to us and reminds us of our purpose. That man walked away with wealth in his pocket, but more importantly he walked away with a wealth of love at least for the hour, hopefully longer, and a little hope in his pocket.
We were so blessed to get to share breakfast and time with Will as well! I love these boys so much!
