God At Work
 

God At Work.....

I’m restless from a stressful night of dealing with so many people who are going through major crisis in their lives.  Domestic violence, substance abuse, prodigals and impaired drivers have been the main stream for the evening.  An involuntary commitment for the mentally ill brought about from continuous substance abuse.  Substance abuse that is largely brought about due to depression and stress, then of course there are many other storms that are hurled into each and every life that brings about stress, anxiety, worry and depression.   A bad economy, skyrocket unemployment rates, broken homes, suicides, drug overdoses, hunger and the list goes on. 

I have to confess that being involved in others lives and knowing the facts and circumstances behind each incident can be almost too much to bear at times and then of course add to those personal issues that arise in my own life.  So how can one not help but be guilty of worrying from time to time?

It’s 2:30 am and I think I will go for a walk now.  Many nights in the still of the morning I like to get out of the office take a walk downtown.  It brings back memories of my law enforcement days when on foot patrol in the wee hours of the morning hoping to catch a burglary in progress.  However, tonight I hope not to have such an encounter.  It is amazing to me how God speaks all the time even when others are sleeping. He is always on the throne moving and working in the lives of those who are awake.  He never sleeps!

As I stand in the shadows and watch a car slip through a red light at an intersection I glance across the parking lot of the movie theater.  I see an older gentleman with a pack draped over his back rummaging through the trashcans.  One by one he is taking something out of them.  Quite as a mouse and in no hurry he gradually gets to the last trashcan and heads to the back of the movie theater to sit down.  I think I will go over and talk with him.

As a cat sneaks up on a mouse I slowly made my way towards him.  When he turns and spots me I asked, “How are you doing tonight?”  Unaware of whether I was a police officer or not he was a little nervous at the start but I quickly put him at ease by telling him that I like to walk at night when everything is still and quiet.  I told him my name and then in turn asked him his.  Due to his foul odor and soiled clothes I quickly formed the opinion that he was homeless.  I discovered that his findings in the trashcans were a bag of popcorn and he was slowly eating it as we spoke.  In fact this man considerately offered me some of his popcorn which I politely declined. 

In our conversation I found out a lot about him in a short time.  It is always amazing to me how God opens up doors and crosses our pathways with others.  For some reason this man and myself were at ease with each other.  One thing I learned in my years of law enforcement was how to be direct and ask questions.  (Which also can be annoying to some) but nevertheless my curiosity was getting the best of me and I could not help but want to know more about this man’s life and how he became homeless.

He told me that what ultimately put him under the bridge that he now has been living under for the past two years is unemployment.  Our town use to be plentiful with manufacturing jobs, textiles and furniture plants were abundant, and work was not hard to find.  However, when our last furniture plant shut down, this man lost his job, with several rounds of bad luck and no money he was evicted from the home that he rented.  For a short time he tried to mow lawns and do landscaping in the mobile home park that he lived but in the end it was not enough to pay his utilities and rent and therefore he became homeless.

Of course during our conversation I thought of many things to say and talk about spiritually and this led my asking him about his eternal security.  He informed me that he believed in God and Jesus but that he was not so sure that anyone could know for a fact that they were going to heaven.  I shared scripture with him that proved this point but I could tell that he needed more time to process this information.  It would be at this point in our conversation that he would ask me did I know where he could find a water fountain to fill up his water bottle.

Certainly, I replied.  There is one in the lobby where I work, come on I will take you there.  He was shocked to say the least when he found out that I was the magistrate.  I’m always humored at the many different responses I get when certain individuals find out what my job is.  I have to pause here and give thanks to God that He has never let me become prideful and arrogant over a job title or career.  By the way, this homeless man’s nickname is AJ. 

So, AJ and I make it to the lobby and he takes a pack of cool aid and mixes it in with his water.  Much earlier in the night my wife had brought me supper from Wendy’s but little did she know that I had already been to Subway and little did I know that it would play out that way so that I could give AJ my chicken sandwich and baked potato.

God’s intervention allowed AJ and I to sit and talk for an hour or so before the next impaired driver was brought in and during this time we established much rapport with one another.  My curiosity in wanting to know how he has survived these past two years being homeless led to one question after another and I was fascinated at his descriptions of nature and his love for nature and animals.  He told me he has (9) cats, (2) skunks and a groundhog that share his room with him under the bridge.  He said the skunks eat with the cats and as long as you don’t bother them they won’t bother you.  He told me that the good thing about the cats being around is that he does not have to worry about the snakes and rats.

The truth is I could right pages about our conversation and all that was said but in bringing this story to an end I have to tell you what AJ told me he dreams of.  I asked him, “AJ, if you could have one wish and that wish come true, what would it be?”   He said, “I would wish for a home again, a home that would allow me to provide a homeless shelter for others.” I was speechless for a few moments to say the least. 

Unfortunately our time together had to come to a close but not without a hearty invitation from AJ.  AJ invited me to come and visit him at his home so I’m asking each of you to pray about this for me.  I’m considering going and hanging out with AJ for a few days and maybe nights.  He told me that he would like to take me out and show me the ropes and introduce me to all the homeless people that live in our town.  He feels that our community leaders are discrete in addressing the actual number of homeless people who live in town and states that he can show me differently, not to mention I think he would simply just enjoy the company.  He challenged me when he said, “Now when you come, don’t bring any money or any food, just bring one change of clothes and a pocket knife.”  God will provide the rest.  For the remainder of the night I could not help but process and reflect on what God wanted to say to me, how He wants to work in my life and what my encounter with AJ was all about.  The following scripture verse came to mind.

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more  than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air; for they neither sow nor reap nor gather in barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  (Matthew 6:25-27)

Obviously, AJ’s life gives testimony to this fact and serves as a great reminder that God will provide in those times of needs.  Food for thought:  You don’t realize what you have until it’s gone and you don’t miss what you’ve never had.  What could happen in life if one pursued his/her needs more than wants?  No matter where we are in life or where we are in regards to the battle between needs and wants we must remind ourselves that, “yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery but today is the GIFT. “

My prayer is that this story will touch you in a special way and that the Holy Spirit will stir your heart to pray for AJ and all those who are homeless in our communities and the across the world!

In Christ,

Lynn Webb

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