It’s easy to pass him by. Almost melting into the stone wall behind him, the old man sits with his head slouched low, reminding me of sleeping subway riders in Korea. Nearly everything about him is nondescript, apart from the bandage covering most of his lower right leg. However easy it is to overlook him, there’s something that I can’t shake, as if the large white bandage is an invitation directly to me. Feeling uncomfortable about approaching him, I keep walking.
It’s eating at me though, so I tell Lila of my internal struggle. Look, his head is down, maybe he’s sleeping. But wait, he’s lifting it now. If I do go talk to him, what do I say? If I pray for his leg, will he even be healed? I’m not sure I want to.
Lila suggests we move closer to pray for him silently because “God can’t hear us from this far away.” Ha, right. As we move closer, I start to feel the ridiculousness of my hesitation. What do I lose from talking to him? My feet begin to move before my head registers. Before I know it, I am standing in front of him, asking him his name and sharing mine.
Within seconds, my tears start creeping as the man smiles. It takes me a minute to place his familiarity. With skin a few shades darker and eyes of a different color, he looks just like my grandpa. Love hits me hard with just that simple connection for a man who is overlooked by so many others.
During our brief conversation, I learned about hardships in his life, his lack of family in the city and his injured leg that has caused him pain for two years. As a result, he is planning on going to the hospital tomorrow to have it amputated.
I share that God brought us all the way to Colombia to tell him that God loves him. He seems to believe this heartily. I ask if I could pray for healing in his leg and he agrees. Lila and I pray for a miracle, believing in a God who not only saves, but who can also heal in a moment. I wish I could say that we saw a miraculous healing and this man walk away pain free, but I can’t. Instead, we say our goodbyes and leave.
Walking away I am overcome by a mixture of unidentifiable feelings. His situation seemed so hopeless and lonely. I wonder why the Lord led me to this man who reminded me so much of my grandpa. And if his leg stood out to me so much, why wasn’t he healed? All I can do is ask, “What are you up to, Father?”
And He reminds me that Jesus came for those who are broken, hurting, lonely, and lost. He desires for us to build His kingdom through connection. I’m continuously reminded that it’s not about my abilities, seeing a miracle or even changing the world. It’s about Him and our walk together to share love to a world that is in desperate need of it.
The invitations are all around us. How will you share God’s love today?
