Saturday, October 11, 2008

Preacher Man

Last Thursday, I was having a "rough" day and just needed to get away. I went to Wendy's...Megan and I found it to be a wonderful place for venting about our troubles :) While I was ordering my crispy chicken sandwich and chocolate frosty, a homeless man walked in. Immediately I began to feel God telling me that I needed to talk to him. "Me God?? I'm not the person to do that." I began to make excuses like "I'm too shy, I wouldn't know what to say, what if he doesn't listen to me?" Or the biggest thing...what will all those around me think? Needless to say, I did not speak to him. He left, walked right out of the restaurant, and walked away from someone who could have told him about the greatest gift in the whole world. He even turned back like he forgot something, looked me right in the eye, and then walked off. What did I do..I quickly looked away from his pleading eyes...eyes that were searching for answers. Oh the shame I felt! I let my Father down. I continue to eat my frosty when I look up and see that God is giving me a second chance. Another homeless man walks in...and walks right by me, orders the cheapest thing on the menu, and then sits down to rest. He is only two tables away from me. In a shaking voice, I call out hello. He looks back at me, surprised, and returns the hello. Now what do I say? I asked the first thing that came to my mind..."do you know Jesus?" His reply was "yes, do you?" our conversation didn't go much farther that that, but the last thing he said was a verse, Matthew 5:4.."Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." I don't exactly know what he meant by that, and I don't know if I will ever see that man again or where he is right now, but what I do know, is the impact that he has on the Wendy's workers. You see, after he left, one of the workers at Wendy's walked over and told me that they call that man "Preacher Man" because he is always coming in and talking about Jesus. What an awesome testimony! If that man can have the courage to stand up and speak for Christ, shouldn't I? Do people ever say anything about me when I leave or am I just another girl who was there...do I stand out...what makes me different...can anyone see the difference between me and the world?

"It's amazing how we go on everyday and just assume there will be a tomorrow...
We make plans...for tomorrow,
We mess up and promise we'll fix that problem...tomorrow
Live for ourselves today and...oh yeah, I'll give you tomorrow God
But will there be a tomorrow?
It was never promised, we just assume it's going to be there
We assume its going to be come for everyone else too
and never make right with that person,
because I can do that...tomorrow."

But what am I doing with today?