Faith Family Football Challenge #2Sample

READ: 1PET.4.8-11, PRV.31.8-9

I travel a bit for my work, having lots of meetings that take me all over the place. I like to arrive early so I can park, know where I am and not be late. I was in Nashville for some meetings and headed downtown a few hours early. I found a good place to park and knew I could find a place to hang out and work for a few hours before I walked over to where my meeting was.  There was a Panera on the corner and I went inside and found one of those spots that has two comfy chairs and a small table in between. It was around lunchtime so there were business folks starting to come in and sit at the various tables.  I was just working away on my computer when someone arrived and sat in the other comfy chair. I did not see him first, I smelled him. The man was homeless and came in to get out of the blistering summer heat.  Have you ever had those moments that you know that your spirit is prompting you to do something, but you really don’t want to do it? I wanted to just get some work done, but I decided to pay attention to that small voice inside. People were starting to look at the man, and even the manager was about to come over to ask him to leave.  “Are you hungry?” I asked. “Yes” he replied keeping his eyes down like a submissive dog. “Do you want me to get you something?” He was silent, eyes still down.  "Too expensive here," he mumbled. “What’s your name?” I asked.  He looked up, his eyes meeting mine. “John.” I stuck out my hand. He looked at me for a bit before grabbing it. “Hi John. My name is Jess.” We began talking and before you knew it, I found out that John had been living on the streets for about 10 years. He had children but they did not know he was homeless. He used to work as a manager but something happened and he lost all hope. 

I remember when “something happened” to me back while I was still in college at Temple University in north Philadelphia.  I ran out of money, and had no place to live. I had already paid for that semester, so I decided to live on the streets while going to school and working. As you read before, I grew up in the Boy Scouts, so camping out and roughing it is nothing new, but surviving in a big city with no place to regularly call home, well, that’s a different kind of roughing it with a lot of danger attached to it. Crazy things happen in the dark of the night! That was a difficult year albeit challenging in a way that shaped me for understanding better the needs of others. So I kinda had an idea of what John was going through. We talked and shared stories about life, family, kids, the best place to get cheap food, the current state of the government, the recent eclipse - you name it.  We laughed and at one point tears were streaming down my face because I could “feel” John’s pain of where he was in life. And yet he was okay with it all.  I’ve met some amazing people on the streets over the years. “You should be nice to everyone because you never know when you’re going to host an angel” John said, quoting the verse from Hebrews 13:2. I said “Yea, then thanks for letting me host you today John.” Adamant, John said “No, I’m hosting you! You’re my angel today.” I smiled big, “Well, I think you might be an angel today John!” We laughed a bit more while the manager passed by John, eyeing him but not saying anything since he and I were engaged in a civil conversation and John had a “paid-for” cup, albeit days, maybe even weeks old, probably someone else’s out of the trash.  I had nothing, nor had I purchased anything, but the manager didn’t think twice about not kicking me out. Hmmmm?  Anyway, John and I shook hands again. I held a bit longer than I probably should have, we looked each other in the eyes, and I told him to stay safe. "Thanks for talking to me," he said. "I haven't talked to anyone in over a week." I pressed some money into his hand. He headed off to the dollar store to get some food. I headed off to my business lunch. “See you on the other side Jess,” and he went his way and I went mine, but I think we were both a bit different as a result of the interaction. I know I was.   

A few weeks later, I did a Google search and found both John’s son and daughter both of whom he had told me about. I was able to speak directly with one of them, letting them know of their father’s homelessness.  I do not know if they reached out to him or not, but I do know that just having a conversation with John was amazing - for both of us.  So today, whatever you are doing, keep your eyes open for that “Forget About Me, I Love You” moment to engage someone that may need it. You’ll be surprised how it affects you as well!    

ASK God to show up, to join you in your time with Him today.

WRITE:  Write down some times that perhaps you felt God’s spirit moving you to do something. Did you do it or not?  Write down ways you think you can identify God’s voice, how you think He has spoken to you (through prayer, through situations, through friends?) and how you plan on acting on it in the future.  

MEDITATE:  Pray about your relationship with God.  Pray about recognizing His voice apart from the many things that vy for your time. Pray for opportunities for you to serve God in your actions today. 

VIDEO:

Mark Schlerlith, ESPN Sports Commentator, Former Denver Bronco