A lot of people think George is crazy, and rightfully so. I saw him across the store, sitting next to a guy on a couch, waving his arms and talking very animatedly. A second look revealed the man next to him not only didn’t know him, but was sinking further into the couch in an attempt to almost disappear. It was during this time that I recognized the book in George’s hand by the all too familiar tassel that was hanging out of it. In his hand was his old, tattered Bible.
Now my first reaction was to look away from the train wreck quickly and think, “Oh great, a crazy Christian…”. My second thought was rather similar, but a totally different perspective as I thought, “How great, another crazy Christian.”
I know by doing this project I run the risk of looking crazy, but who gets to decide that? When I got my drink, I put myself right in the middle of George and this other man and just listened as he preached the Word. As he was sharing the Gospel and the beautiful message that comes with it, I think the other man saw me as more of a saviour than anyone. Turns out that George is a 77 year old lifetime missionary that has spent a majority of his life working in a children’s home in Mexico. His old, beat up van (which was older than I am) has been used for years to take children to and from school, church, and hospitals as George brought them closer to Jesus.
Just hearing some of the words that were coming out of this man’s mouth made him sound crazy, but the more I listened, the more he looked like Jesus. He opened his Bible and riffled through the pages to find just the right scriptures God was putting on his heart to share with me and build me up. I kept wanting to hear his story, he kept wanting to tell me more about Jesus. Funny how backwards I can get sometimes.
The time flew by as I chatted with George and it was obvious it was a blessing for both of us. Not only was I getting the scriptures read over me and truth proclaimed in my life, but he was able to share the heart of Jesus with someone that was receptive towards it. He asked if I wanted to receive any type of anointing and so I asked him to just share the Gospel with me like it was the first time I’d heard it, so I could be reminded of God’s grace in my life.
Eventually it came time for George and I to part ways, but it wasn’t before our very kingdom and Christ centered conversation that we had in the midst of a large crowd that tried not to listen in Half Priced Books. I knew the second I left he would turn back to the same man that still hadn’t left the couch yet, to start preaching the Gospel again. As I turned around to say bye, he was already back to his previous conversation with a renewed since of passion. There was an even brighter fire coming out of him.
The cool thing is that man George was talking to still hadn’t left couch. Even the darkest areas turn around to look when light walks into the room.
George, the world says you’re crazy. But there’s no doubt you have a light the others desperately need. Who knows who will hear when we simply open our mouths…
