All right…well it’s about time I get this posted.
People keep asking me “So how was Washington D.C.? Did you have fun, what did you do, what did you learn…etc…” Well…it was definitely unforgettable…mutant mosquito bites, prayer meeting consisting only of speaking in tongues (which I must admit, was a little weird to me, since I don’t speak in tongues), we saw the monuments, and the ZOO!! Decided to prayer walk the city at 10pm in the rain! Overall, I have to say that I experienced ALL the emotions known to mankind during that week: Joy, Anger, Sadness, Confusion, Excitement, Love etc… basically sums up life. ;) But I really only have one story that I really feel compelled to share…one that I will never forget! This story to me…explains why it is I have a strong love for people…I always had it in me…but I became aware of it and it was magnified when I met…
A Loved Stranger -He glances at me before returning his solemn gaze back to the floor. I had just sat down on the metro heading to City Church with my fellow interns, all of whom were involved in their own conversations at this particular moment. I on the other hand, was captivated by this young man across from me. I didn’t know him personally, but something was stirring in my spirit. At random moments, he would glance at me. I smiled though he did not return it. I would glance away so as to not let on too much that I was watching him. Something was just…off. The one time we made eye-contact, I can’t explain what happened to me…his eyes held a pained expression, he was full of confusion, hurt…I felt it. I also felt God’s love for him. I wanted to act! I wanted to do something! But what? I knew I needed to talk to him but I couldn’t seem to get up from my seat and walk the 2 feet forward to the empty seat beside him.
The train jerked to a stop. I walked over and handed him my note! He replied with a soft, almost inaudible thank you along with guess what…a SMILE!!! His composure of pain and sadness began to melt!
People keep asking me “So how was Washington D.C.? Did you have fun, what did you do, what did you learn…etc…” Well…it was definitely unforgettable…mutant mosquito bites, prayer meeting consisting only of speaking in tongues (which I must admit, was a little weird to me, since I don’t speak in tongues), we saw the monuments, and the ZOO!! Decided to prayer walk the city at 10pm in the rain! Overall, I have to say that I experienced ALL the emotions known to mankind during that week: Joy, Anger, Sadness, Confusion, Excitement, Love etc… basically sums up life. ;) But I really only have one story that I really feel compelled to share…one that I will never forget! This story to me…explains why it is I have a strong love for people…I always had it in me…but I became aware of it and it was magnified when I met…
A Loved Stranger -He glances at me before returning his solemn gaze back to the floor. I had just sat down on the metro heading to City Church with my fellow interns, all of whom were involved in their own conversations at this particular moment. I on the other hand, was captivated by this young man across from me. I didn’t know him personally, but something was stirring in my spirit. At random moments, he would glance at me. I smiled though he did not return it. I would glance away so as to not let on too much that I was watching him. Something was just…off. The one time we made eye-contact, I can’t explain what happened to me…his eyes held a pained expression, he was full of confusion, hurt…I felt it. I also felt God’s love for him. I wanted to act! I wanted to do something! But what? I knew I needed to talk to him but I couldn’t seem to get up from my seat and walk the 2 feet forward to the empty seat beside him.
I began reasoning with myself…and God. I knew I wanted to talk to him, I also knew God wanted me to talk to him. “God…are you serious? Really? Why me? I don‘t know what to say…”God responded “You don’t have to say anything, just tell him what I tell you. He’s not alone.” O boy…I wondered if this was really happening, of if I was going insane. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. O this isn’t happening…but of course it was. “Ok God, if he is still sitting there after the next stop, I will go over and talk to him!” Well, this proceeded for the next 3 stops and I still didn’t talk to him.
“God, I’m not sure I can do this!!” I started thinking would it really matter if I didn’t talk to him? After all, I probably wouldn’t see him ever again. Well, maybe that’s the point, why am I afraid of making a fool of myself, or what he thinks of me if I’m not going to see him again! What if my talking to him…stops something from happening! I became worried. He looked…sad…like really sad. His eyes had obviously been crying…I felt the pain again…and I was convinced. God convinced me…I needed to act now! Unfortunately my stop was here…but I wasn’t getting off without doing something so I took out a piece of paper and wrote “God loves you!!” …my pen died! No! My friend Sarah handed me a sharpie. I finished my note with “Have a wonderfully awesome day!! Psalm 139! :)”
The train jerked to a stop. I walked over and handed him my note! He replied with a soft, almost inaudible thank you along with guess what…a SMILE!!! His composure of pain and sadness began to melt!
GOD IS GOOD!!!
The man on the train is my loved stranger. I love him because God loves him, I can’t explain what I felt…but I felt God’s love towards this man and it was contagious. I hope he is doing well. I pray for him when he crosses my mind…and I will never forget what he has allowed me to be open to…open to feeling the heart God has for his people…you and me and the strangers on the train!
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