I’m realizing that I need to start writing more, because (a) I love to write, (b) I have the time to write, and (c) I love blogs and personal writing.
It seems like 2012 is going by lightning fast, so I’ve spent some time reflecting on it overall. Before it started, Christmas break was spent at home waiting on God to see if the World Race was the right program for me, and coming into this year I realized that it was. I wanted to listen to God so I could follow his will in doing the little things. I knew 2012 would be an impacting year from learning how to listen, but I didn’t realize the impact would start so soon.
On New Year’s Day, I started the year with the 300-mile drive back to school. But something interesting began to happen the day before I left.
You’re going to give someone a ride tomorrow.
Seriously, God? I questioned what I was feeling on my heart. I wanted to listen to him and do what was right, but I didn’t want to get my car jacked on the side of the interstate. But God speaks to our hearts in strange ways sometimes and I had the same feeling the next morning at church:
You’re going to give someone a ride tomorrow.
By this point, the thought had been circulating in my head and I was ready. Okay, Lord. I trust you with whatever happens. Show me the way.
After church I said goodbye to my family and headed to the ferry landing. (Yes, I live on an island.) I had forgotten about the idea of driving someone and was ready to head back to school and start 2012 off on my own time. Apparently, God’s vision of how the year would start was different than mine.
Driving off the ferry with hundreds of other cars, I saw a downcast elderly woman standing beside the road with a cardboard sign: “HUNGRY, NEED FOOD.” Since nobody seemed to be acknowledging her, I pulled my car to the side of the road. I thought I’d be a nice guy and offer her some items from my packed lunch.
“Would you like some of my turkey sandwich?” I asked after I rolled down the window. I thought it would be easy to offer what she needed.
She gave me a funny look instead. “I don’t eat turkey because of the nitrates.”
Shot down, I tried to respond in a loving way. “Well I have some fruits and vegetables. Or some homemade trail mix…?”
“I can’t eat those either. The plastics from the bags have soaked into them.”
Rummaging through my lunch bag, I had one last item to offer. “I have a granola bar that is factory sealed.”
“Oh, what kind?”
“Nature Valley, Oats and Honey.” I smiled proudly. It was my favorite, but it was worth giving up if someone needed it more than I did.
“No. Those kind aren’t very good!”
Seriously?! In frustration, I tossed my lunch back in the passenger seat and returned a snarky response: “Well good luck finding something to eat.” I rolled my window up and wanted to drive away. Then I realized I would have to wait for another hundred or so cars to leave before I could merge back onto the road.
Then I felt the spirit nudging me again, this time in a more humbling way. Roll down your window and talk to her. It’s okay.
Reluctantly, I approached her again. “So if you don’t mind me asking, what can you eat?”
After a brief silence, she began telling me about her severe food allergies, but also her inability to communicate well. She felt bad for how she treated me when I offered my lunch. As our conversation progressed, I began to see what God saw. She admitted that she was weak and suffered from autism, ADHD, and PTSD. She wandered the streets looking for a place to go.
Once all the ferry traffic left, the street was abandoned and she looked dejected. “I thought more people from the islands would stop. Can I get a ride into town?” (Insert "I told you so" message from God.)
I loaded her stuff in the back of my car and began driving east. I realized this was the perfect opportunity to begin 2012 by being a life witness to someone I didn’t know.
“What’s your name?” she asked sheepishly.
“Isaac.” I answered, trying to figure out how to direct the conversation.
“That’s a nice Christian name,” she responded. “I could tell you were a believer from the way you stopped and talked to me like that.”
Wow, seriously God? That was easy.
I replied that I was a Christian and asked her if she was one too. She admittedly was at one time but was going through a lot of difficult life circumstances. It was hard for her to see how God could work in a life like hers. She began telling me about her life and I searched for meaningful questions to ask.
The ride from the ferry landing into downtown Anacortes is only about eight miles, so I eagerly prayed for more time. All three traffic lights turned red as soon as we pulled up to them.
During the ride, she had a change of heart. She wanted to be dropped off at a church to see if anyone had food and could continue talking to her. I knew that God had a bigger plan in this. I was just called to be the driver or delivery boy, but it began my year of learning how to listen to his voice.
We found a church on the side of the road and I asked if I could pray for her before she left. During the prayer, I brought up every hardship she mentioned by name and asked for Jesus to work through them in her life. (He definitely helped with my memory.)
Then when I thought it was over, he absolutely blew my mind.
In tears, she thanked me before walking away and spoke to me with clarity I had not heard her speak: “You know, God has something he wants to tell you in Psalm 41, verses one through three.”
What? Confused, I thanked her and began to drive off. But as soon as she was out of sight, I couldn’t wait any longer. I pulled over into the nearest parking lot and rummaged around the car for my Bible.
Immediately the right page opened up when I found it. (I love it when that happens!)
“Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the LORD delivers them in times of trouble. The LORD protects and preserves them—they are counted among the blessed in the land—he does not give them over to the desire of their foes. The LORD sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.” -Psalm 41:1-3
Going into 2012 with uncertainty, I needed to hear God’s promise to deliver, protect, and preserve us through our response to social justice. When we listen to his voice, we will regard the weak and have the energy to be there for the “least of these.” They are also God’s children, and he will show us compassion to drive us forward into action. Are we learning to listen?
I knew the Lord had called us to cross paths that day, and I was focused on listening to him so I could help. But I discounted the idea that he could also speak to me through her. At this point, I realized the power God has to work through any circumstance and I was aware of the complex scheme of things we are caught up in when we begin listening to his voice.
I knew right then that God’s plan for me in 2012 would be bigger than I could have ever dreamed. Bring on the World Race.
