2/15/19
Sometimes, God breaks your heart to the brokenness in this world. God allows you to see a situation through his eyes. Suddenly the pain and the hurt that you only ever read about becomes a reality. This occurred for me at a gas station when I met a man named Enough.
Just a disclaimer before I continue: This story is in no way an attempt to make people think more of me. My hope is to shed light on a heartbreaking situation and to challenge my readers to evaluate their own lives just as I have evaluated mine.
My team had just finished eating dinner at a restaurant called Nando’s. We were headed back home, but decided to stop at a nearby gas station so that a few people could pull out some money. Once we arrived I headed inside to pick up some necessities, a coke and a chocolate bar, when I noticed a young man sitting by the entrance. He looked as if he’d been wearing the same pair of clothes for at least a week. We exchanged a glance, I nodded at him, and proceeded into the store. As I was browsing the aisles, I couldn’t stop thinking about the look that he had given me. There was a desperation in his eyes, a hopelessness that had begun to haunt me. I decided to buy him a pot pie that was in the hot box at the counter.
I walked back outside, and sat down next to him. I introduced myself, and asked for his name. He said his name was Gonte (I hope I spelled that correctly), which means ‘enough’ in English. We began to talk. He explained to me that he was nineteen years old, and that he had two siblings who were still in school. He also told me that both of his parents were dead and that he was now the head of the household. He was looking for work and he was out of options. He had no money to pay for his sibling’s education (you have to pay for schooling in South Africa), and no way to provide for the needs of his family. That left Enough exactly where I found him: sitting outside a gas station begging for money. He was left with seemingly…not enough.
I shared with this young man that life is unfair. There are times where it seems hopeless, and it feels that there is no light at the end of the tunnel. But through a relationship with Jesus we can have hope that when this life ends, that we step into an eternity where there is no pain, no suffering, and no need of any kind. I also told him that Jesus offers us a peace in this life that surpasses all understanding. I prayed for provision, for blessings, and for peace.
Before I left, I asked Enough if there was anything else that he needed. He said that he didn’t have any clothes except for the ones he was wearing. As I looked down at my attire, the only article that I could think to give him was my socks. So I slipped off my shoes and handed him the socks that I had been wearing. I walked back to the van with a feeling of dissatisfaction. I sat down, and looked out the window at Enough. As I did this, I felt the Holy Spirit tell me, “Give him your shoes.” There was a brief moment of hesitation as I thought about how much I liked the Nikes that were on my feet. In the next moment I was again standing in front of Enough with my shoes in hand. My friend Alex West had come with me and she had given him her sweatshirt. We were about to leave when he stopped us. “Pray for me again,” he said. We knelt beside him one last time, held his hands, and pleaded with God for breakthrough in this man’s life.
It was on the van ride back to our home where God truly broke me. I think the lack of my shoes allowed me to put myself into his. A nineteen year old boy should be dreaming about what he wants to be when he grows up, not worrying about whether or not his family is going to have food to eat. He should be able to have hopes and goals but life has forfeited him that privilege. The look in his eyes was ingrained into my thoughts. The brokenness became overwhelming, and I began to cry for the first time in a long time.
I looked at my own life, and was disgusted at the entitlement that I saw. I was convicted of how quickly I am to complain and whine about minor inconveniences. I have never lacked. Ever. I have been so richly blessed. This brought me to repentance, and to a new perspective. I began to think about ways I could use the blessings that God has so graciously given me to bless others. I mean isn’t that the reason we are given blessings in the first place? “Freely you’ve been given, so freely give.” We have freely received from God so that we can freely give to others. That glorifies God. Selfishness and entitlement do not, period. And this goes so much deeper than the physical. As disciples, we have been given the keys to eternity. We have received power by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. SHARE IT. GIVE IT. There is no higher form of selfishness than to keep that news to yourself.
I want to challenge you just as I have begun to challenge myself. I want you to first look at what God has blessed you with. It could be monetary, or it could be a talent that you have been gifted. And then ask him how you can use that to bless someone else. As a body, we need to take action against the poverty and need around us, both in the physical and in the spiritual. Where is that need? What is that need? If you don’t see one, go find one. If you can’t find one, you’re not looking very hard because there is need all around us. It lives across the street. It sits in the pew in front of you. It’s so much closer than you think. What it takes from us is a willingness to get outside of our bubble. It takes a little discomfort, and sometimes, a lot of inconvenience. It’s really simple. God has blessed us to bless others, not so that we can be comfortable. I’m in no way saying that wealth is bad, or that having nice things is a sin. I think the opposite, actually. Having wealth is a MASSIVE opportunity that can be used to bless a larger number of people. So whether you have a lot, or whether you have nothing but the shoes on your feet, I promise you have something to give.
“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth.” -1 John 3:17-18
Also please join me in praying for Enough. He is in need of a job, and does not have many of the necessities required for quality of life. He has two siblings, and is doing everything he can to provide for them. The best thing that we can do it intercede for him.
