Page 6 - Good News January 2009 paper

I Thank You Lord

- Author Unknown (Translated from Spanish)
t was an unusually cold day for the "I felt the Lord telling me to keep walking,
month of May. Spring had arrived and and so I did, some 14 years now." … for all the blessings
Ieverything was alive with colour, but a "Ever thought of stopping?" I asked. "Oh, You gave me last year.
cold front from the North had brought once in a while, when it seems to get the … for sunny days as well as
winter's chill back to Indiana. best of me, but God has given me this sad, cloudy days.
I sat, with two friends, in the picture calling. I give out Bibles. That's what is in … for peaceful afternoons
window of a quaint restaurant just off the my sack. I work to buy food and Bibles, and and long, dark nights.
corner of the town's square. The food and I give them out when and where His Spirit Thank you for health and strength,
the company were both especially good leads." for sorrows and joys.
that day. As we talked, my attention was I sat amazed. My homeless friend was not
drawn outside, across the street. "homeless". He was on a mission and lived Thank you, Lord, for friendly smiles
There, walking into town, was a man who this way by choice. The question burned and helping hands,
appeared to be carrying all his worldly inside for a moment and then I asked: for the love I have received
goods on his back. He was carrying a well- "What is it like to walk into a town carrying and all wonderful things.
worn sign that read, "I will work for food." all your things on your back and to show For the flowers and stars,
My heart sank. I brought him to the your sign?" for children and loving souls.
attention of my friends and noticed that "Oh, it was humiliating at first. People
others around us had stopped eating to would stare and make comments. Once Thank you for loneliness,
focus on him. Heads moved in a mixture of someone tossed a piece of half-eaten for work, for difficulties and problems,
sadness and disbelief. bread and made a gesture that certainly for uncertainties and tears
We continued with our meal, but his image didn't make me feel welcome, but then it because all these brought me
lingered in my mind. We finished our meal became humbling to realize that God was closer to You.
and went our separate ways. I had errands using me to touch lives and change
to run and quickly set out to accomplish people's concepts of other folks like me." Thank you for preserving my life,
them. I glanced toward the town square, My concept was changing too. We finished for supplying shelter, food and
looking somewhat half-heartedly for the our dessert and he gathered his things. all my needs.
strange visitor. I was fearful, knowing that Just outside the door, he paused. He
seeing him again would call some turned to me and said, "Come ye blessed of What awaits me this new year?
response. my Father and inherit the Kingdom I've Whatever you wish, My Lord.
I drove through town and saw nothing of prepared for you. For when I was hungry I ask only that you grant me faith
him. I made some purchases at a store and you gave me food, when I was thirsty you to see You in everything
got back in my car. Deep within me, the gave me drink, a stranger and you took me that comes my way,
Spirit of God kept speaking to me: "Don't in." hope and courage never to give up,
go back to the office until you've at least I felt as if we were on holy ground. "Could and love… more love for You
driven once more around the square." you use another Bible?" I asked. He said he each day and for those around me.
And so, with some hesitancy, I headed back preferred a certain translation. It travelled
into town. As I turned the square's third well and was not too heavy. It was also his Give me patience, humility,
corner, I saw him. He was standing on the personal favourite. "I've read it through 14 yieldedness and a giving heart.
steps of the storefront church, going times," he said. Give me, Lord, what You know
through his sack. I stopped and looked, "I'm not sure we've got one of those, but is good for me and that which
feeling both compelled to speak to him, yet let's stop by our church and see." I was able I know not how to ask.
wanting to drive on. to find my new friend a Bible that would do Grant me an obedient heart
The empty parking space on the corner well, and he seemed very grateful. and a listening ear, an alert mind
seemed to be a sign from God: an invitation "Where are you headed from here?" "Well, I and active hands so that I may
to park. I pulled in, got out and approached found this little map on the back of this yield to Your desire and
the town's newest visitor. amusement park coupon." "Are you submit to Your perfect will for my life.
"Looking for the pastor?" I asked. "Not hoping to hire on there for a while?" Pour out Your blessings over all my loved
really," he replied, "just resting." "No, I just figure I should go there. I figure ones and bring peace to the hearts of men.
"Have you eaten today?" "Oh, I ate some- someone there needs a Bible, so that's Amen.
thing early this morning." "Would you like where I'm going next." He smiled, and the
to have lunch with me?" "Do you have warmth of his spirit radiated the sincerity of
some work I could do for you?" "No work," I his mission.
replied. "I commute here to work from the I drove him back to the town square where
city, but I would like to take you to lunch." we'd met two hours earlier, and as we
"Sure," he replied with a smile. As he began drove, it started raining. We parked and
to gather his things, I asked some surface unloaded his things.
questions. "Would you sign my autograph book?" he
"Where are you headed?" "St. Louis." asked. "I like to keep messages from folks I
"Where are you from?" "Oh, all over; meet." I wrote in his little book that his
mostly Florida." commitment to his calling had touched my
"How long have you been walking?" life. I encouraged him to stay strong. And I
"Fourteen years," came the reply. I knew I left him with a verse of scripture from
had met someone unusual. Jeremiah, "I know the plans I have for you,"
We sat across each other in the same declared the Lord, "plans to prosper you
restaurant I had left earlier. His face was and not to harm you. Plans to give you a
weathered slightly beyond his 38 years. His future and a hope."
eyes were dark yet clear, and he spoke with "Thanks, man," he said. "I know we just met
an eloquence and articulation that was and we're really just strangers, but I love
startling. He removed his jacket to reveal a you." "I know," I said, "I love you, too." "The
bright red T-shirt that said, "Jesus is The Lord is good!" "Yes, He is! How long has it
Never Ending Story." been since someone hugged you?" I
Then Daniel's story began to unfold. He asked. "A long time," he replied. And so on
had seen rough times early in life. He'd the busy street corner in the drizzling rain,
made some wrong choices and reaped the my new friend and I embraced, and I felt
consequences. Fourteen years earlier, deep inside that I had been changed.
while backpacking across the country, he He put his things on his back, smiled his
had stopped on the beach in Daytona. He winning smile and said, "See you in the
tried to hire on with some men who were New Jerusalem." "I'Il be there!" was my
putting up a large tent and some equip- reply.
ment. A concert, he thought. He was hired, He began his journey again. He headed
but the tent would not house a concert, but away with his sign dangling from his bed-
revival services and in those services he roll and pack of Bibles. He stopped, turned
saw life more clearly. He gave his life over and said, "When you see something that
to God. reminds you of me, will you pray for me?"
"Nothing's been the same since," he said, Continued on p. 8
Continued on p. 8