I stood outside in the cold wondering why I had to smoke another cigarette. I was pretty sure this could be against the Adventures rules, but they never specifically said you couldn’t smoke outside alone at night. They just said not to go anywhere alone at night. Afterall, I didn’t go anywhere. I was technically still at the hotel. I saw a man smoking too. He was several yards away from me. Maybe like 20 yards. I watched him trying to figure out if he was from Adventures or not. I decided he was not. Somehow I was curious about this man. I wanted to talk to him. Actually I wasn’t sure if I wanted to or not, but I felt like I was supposed to. I just wasn’t too keen on walking out to the middle of the vast parking lot at night.
I stayed put. If I was supposed to talk to this guy, then he’d come to me in my safe, well lit area by the door. Then he started walking the other direction. “Well, I guess I don’t have to talk to him” I thought. Maybe God wasn’t telling me to talk to him afterall. Then the man turned around, almost abruptly. He took two steps intentionally towards me and then meandered slowly somewhat in my direction. For a second I thought he was walking toward me. Then we made eye contact. That’s when he actually began obviously walking toward me. It felt so slow motion. This was probably the longest cigarette I’ve ever smoked. How was this guy still smoking too? As he got closer I noticed he was puffing on a cigar. I was about to meet some super classy business man. I greated him when he got into hearing distance. He greated me back and then I asked his name. It was Pete. I told him what I was up to with this mission trip. I asked what he was doing in Atlanta. He was in pilot training for three weeks.
God started to put something in my heart like I was going to pray for this guy. We kept talking and I got this empty vibe from Pete. It felt like boredom with routine, like living life without a sense of purpose or intention. What was the word God wanted me to speak into this man? Ah, it was “refreshment”. I paused with the Lord as I waited for him to give me more words. “Pete, do you know the Lord? Like God and Jesus?” I asked. “Yes” he replied. “Have you given your life to Christ?” “Yes” he said again. I was glad he was already a Christian because I was dying to speak the word “refreshment” to him.
So I said “I just feel like God has given me a word for you.” He nodded. “Ok”. “It’s refreshment” I said. He smiled and said “I needed that”. Then God told me He wanted me to pray for Pete. So I obediently asked Pete if I could pray for him. He agreed. That’s when God gave me the exact right words to pray. I can’t remember what I prayed exactly, but I was just speaking life and encouragement into this man. I prayed God may make known His plan for him. I prayed for a hot minute. It was awesome! I didn’t stumble over my words or pray for something vague and generic. Not that those prayers aren’t importan. They are. But this prayer was different. It was bold. Now that I think about it, Vic, on my squad prayed for me to have boldness just an hour earlier. God answered that prayer fast.
Anyhow, Pete was really moved by this prayer. Afterward we hugged and he began to tell me why my prayer was so important to him. He said it was like I knew his story but I didnt. Pete served in the airforce, had a near death experience, and 10 years ago lost his teenage son. It all made sense. If I had gone though that I would need a renewal of my spirit too. He thanked me profusely and insisted that my prayer was just what he needed.
I’m just pretty blown away that I was able to listen to God. It was so neat to speak life and hope into someone I don’t know and for it to hit home with them. Our God has perfect timing and makes the best appointments, even if it’s over a smoke break. Isn’t He awesome?
