Encouragement

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Yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting Daniel. I was stopped at a red light, and there he was. Long hair. Dirty skin. Brown teeth. Holding a cardboard sign that read, "Homeless and broke. Anything will help." The light had just turned red, so I knew I had a few moments with him. I rolled my window down, and motioned for him to come closer to the car, which he did... his head downcast, not wanting to look at me. I could tell that he was embarrassed at his current situation.

I asked him his name, at which point his head raised, and he looked in my eyes. He stuttered a moment, shocked that I would even care that he had an identity, and said, "Daniel." I reached out my hand, which was holding a ten dollar bill. Daniel reached his hand out to mine to take the money. When his hand touched mine I said, "Daniel, I'd like to pray with you."

I held his hand and prayed with him... for that brief moment. He thanked me, and responded by saying, "May God bless you!!"

With tears in my eyes I said to him, "He already has. He allowed you to cross my path. He gave me the opportunity to pray with you. And for that, I'm thankful."

Daniel looked down with tears in his eyes, grinned, and the light turned green.

Nicholas was in the car with me during this encounter. He asked where Daniel lived, and I had to explain to him that he was homeless. I think this was Nic's first time seeing someone in Daniel's situation. He proceeded to ask if he was cold at night, to which I responded 'yes'. I thought Nic was going to cry, as he has a very tender heart, but he didn't. And from the backseat of the car, he said, "I will be praying for Daniel."

I have thought about Daniel ever since meeting him yesterday. Praying for him that he has found safe shelter. That he has the comfort of the Lord to keep him warm. Wondering if he is thinking of the meeting, too. Wondering if I was able to convey the message of the Lord within those few minutes with him.

The Lord has put the homeless community on my heart in a Mighty Heavy way. Over the past week or so, I've been encouraged by the Lord to minister to those who find themselves in desperate times, as Daniel has. I'm finding that if HE gives you a burden to carry, HE will continue to allow you to see the need for you to be active in pursuing said burden. My heart is heavy as I'm typing this. There are so many more like Daniel. Homeless. Cold. Hungry. Desperate. Downcast. Perceiving themselves to be irrelevant to the world... Incapable of having a meaningful life. It saddens me deeply to think that anyone would have that perception of their life.

We are ALL here to further The Kingdom!! Our walks will not be the same. Our relationships will not be the same. Our paths will not be the same. But there is One common denominator.... We all serve the SAME GOD!!! I pray that we can step into what the Lord has for us, and not bypass those times HE has set before us to teach us. To allow us to see. To speak into the lives of others. And to be blessed in our hearts by having the opportunity to bless someone else! To make a difference is someone's life... no matter how small we feel the difference is. And with that I will say...AMEN!!

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