This blog literally took years to write. Sometimes a story needs time to marinate before coming to fruition. Sometimes we may never know the outcome of situations presented to us. This is one that we do know.
Over 10 years ago while serving as an associate pastor at a local church, a man enters the office one day. A man with a “need.” The reason I phrase it this way is because this was a neighborhood that always had a “need.” A poor mill village town where someone was always looking for a handout. I listened as he spoke. I always listened. Every time they came, I listened. . Each has a story. Some, well, better rehearsed than others if you know what I mean.
The guy convinced me that whatever I could do to help, he would be willing to come back and work it off. He needed money to help get his water back on in his home. It was my decision. I made the call. Sometimes you just have to follow your heart.
The next day was no problem. He showed up, worked a little and I thought to myself, “I told ya so!” I knew he would do his part. But, I had spoken too soon. After a week had passed and a no show on the “work” that was promised, I got the feeling that I had been taken. Another week, another no show. And then, the ultimate blow to solidify the fact that I had indeed been fleeced. The finance committee was going over the months expenditures and when they came to my little “act of kindness” no one said a word. Didn’t have to. The look alone was enough. The look of “I told you so.” It burned deeper and stung harder than any whipping I had ever taken as a kid. I walked away a little more skeptical, a little more jaded, and a lot more hesitant to help when asked.
Fast forward ten years or so. As a matter of fact, just last week. Who knew a meal at a fast food restaurant could be life changing? After finishing lunch, I walked to counter for a refill on my drink. As I turned and walked away someone behind the counter yelled, “hey, are you a minister?” I hesitated for a second. Why, I’ll never know. Even though I haven’t been on a church staff in a paid capacity for over a year, it shouldn’t have been an issue. When God calls, you minister. Period. I turned back around and could not believe what, no, who I was seeing. I glanced at his name tag and immediately knew who he was. “Kenny?” The very man that had walked into the office years ago and “played” me was standing right in front of me. He began to tell me how things went south. Very south when he left the office that day. He also began telling me how God started working in his life soon after that. He told me that he now was a faithful member at the very church that the finance committee had scolded me for helping. His story went on as how he never missed a Sunday and eagerly served in different areas….. At a time in my life when I thought that God was through with me, a man that I haven’t heard from, and thought I would never see again, was standing before me with a testimony that only angels can fully appreciate. We talked for a while and laughed and I realized that I now had a new friendship that the length of eternity cannot break.
Yeah, I walked out and wanted to go back to that little church and say to the finance committee, “I told ya so.” Didn’t have to…God had already done it for me.
