I was sitting on the park bench in Heredia asking God, “Okay, now what? Shouldn’t I be walking around, not just sitting here? Do you want me to talk to someone? What about that guy?”
A man hauling a large black trash bag walked past me towards the fountain in the center of the park. He jumped the fence barricade and began taking a multitude of flower pots out of his bag, washing them in the fountain while talking to himself loudly. I started praying over him, asking the Spirit if I should approach him or what it was he may need.
As I’m asking the Holy Spirit these questions, two of my teammates get up and walk over to him. I watch and pray as they begin a conversation, but still feel like my place in this moment is right on that bench. Jordan and Jennie Kate then get up to join Jordie and Katie with the man at the fountain, leaving Erin and I sitting under the tree, side by side.
Not two minutes after the rest of the team had left, a man in his late forties or early fifties approached Erin and me. “Buenos dias,” he said. “Buenos dias! Como estas?” we replied. Tears began to glide down the cheeks of our new friend, Edwin, as he told us that he was not doing well at all. His wife had left him for another man, and she moved out of the house with their two children. Edwin’s expression was a portrait of hopelessness as he looked into our eyes, grasping for compassion.
Erin and I entered into conversation with Edwin, listening intently, doing our best to offer any comfort we could through broken Spanish, gentle smiles, and a comforting hand on his shoulder. Twenty minutes later we were all hugging, he’s calling us family, and plans have been made to pick him up at the bus station this Sunday at 10:00am for church. While telling us how much of a blessing we had been to him, he took my hand in his and pressed it against the rough stubble on his cheek, with kindness and gratitude.
Edwin already knows God; it’s not like we introduced him to Jesus for the first time this week. Our conversation with him and our prayers over him that day were simple. All we really did was share space with him, remind him that he is seen, valued, and so worthy of the love and compassion God has for him.
When our team boarded the bus for the twenty minute ride home, I began thinking through our time with Edwin. I went into the day expectant that the Holy Spirit would lead and God would show up – and He did! But I started to question whether our time with Edwin was really that significant. It wasn’t big or flashy. There was no miraculous healing or seemingly life-altering moment. It didn’t really feel like we had brought Kingdom to earth in mighty ways, like I was kinda hoping would happen that day.
I started asking Jesus, “Was it enough? Was our time with Edwin enough?”
And I felt Jesus ask me the very same question,
“Is it enough? Is it enough for you to know you were obedient to Me today? Is it enough to know I was there? Will you only believe it was worth it if it’s a flashy-blog-worthy (ironic) story? The story I gave you today isn’t flashy, but the story I gave you is real. Edwin is a real man with real tears and real hurt. Edwin is a man who needed My compassion and I used you to give it. Is that enough for you, Victoria? Is it not enough that this man, in his distress, saw My light and love in you and Erin, to the point where he was willing to approach you? Victoria, let it be enough. It’s enough for Me, and I’m proud of you.”
Kingdom comes to earth when we’re obedient to Jesus and the leading of the Holy Spirt. Sometimes, Kingdom makes it’s way to earth in booming, unmistakable ways. Other times, Kingdom comes in the quiet of a conversation, as tears are wiped away and a comforting hand is extended. There’s no need to measure or weigh; if Jesus is there, it’s good, it’s significant, and it’s enough.
