A couple of months back the largest revelation in my walk with the Lord to date happened. After a busy morning at work, I took my break and drove to my favorite smoothie spot. While walking in nothing was out of the ordinary, but I was still attached to work, my eyes glued to my phone and not aware of my surroundings. As I ate my turkey sandwich and drank, or whatever you do with a smoothie, my peanut paradise concoction, I started to relax and just people watch. My meal was finished, my phone tucked neatly in my purse, and I started to walk out the front door. Suddenly my ears were flooded with my favorite song “Somewhere over the Rainbow.” It was even my favorite version, ukulele. But there were no words, just the soft strumming and beautiful chords mixing together like a smoothie. I looked around very confused- the music was not inside of the smoothie joint, nor the Subway next door. I dismissed the curiosity, convincing myself that the song was just in my head, which wouldn’t be unusual.
As I turned the corners and walked towards the back of the building, I found the source. A young man, probably in his mid to late twenties, was sitting on the ground, leaning against the side of the smoothie joint. He wore a light red t-shirt and long black pants. His long dark hair, which hadn’t seen a brush in too long, was pulled back into a pony tail. On the right, his dog, who originally with a white coat but now blackened with dirt, sat next to his owner keeping watch. This man’s backpack and what looked to be the rest of his belongings sat to his left. I thought that he must be homeless, or in between homes. And there he was- chilling, just strumming away.
After the initial observation, I grinned and began to walk forward. He looked up just as I began to pass him. His eyes were sharp and brown. I smiled when his met mine. Then, without warning or another thought could reach my mind, I turned sharply, picked his backpack up, moved it to the side and plopped down right next to the man. At this point, I literally thought to myself “Lynnette—what are you doing?!” And after that thought faded away, I saw the look on the man’s face. It wasn’t angry, or upset, or even scared just… shocked I guess. I spoke first and said “Hello.” Then the miraculous power of God filled my heart, and it seemed that power also filled this man’s heart. We started to talk and converse as if we were long lost friends that hadn’t seen each other in years. I finally looked south to his neck, where a beautiful and shining silver cross dangled. Then our conversation circled the Lord. He shared his testimony with me, and how he doesn’t mind being homeless. He feels called to witness to other homeless people. He finds that building relationships with them are his key. At this point, he asked if we could pray together. I opened, and he closed. When he began to pray he grabbed my hand, which was strong and weathered, as if he used to work with his hands, lifting things I think, often. I walked to my car in silence.
My door was shut. The radio was silent. And I wept. I cried because this was the first time I felt truly filled with the power that the Holy Spirit has. My body was obedient. My words were His. The transition between doing good things for Jesus because you are 100% aware that they are good things for Jesus, and that they are things that will “please” him and actually living in the Spirit and allowing your body and soul to be obedient to His order. Words just can’t do enough to describe the feeling that washed over me afterwards. Praise the Lord for this man, whose name I still don’t know, and it still doesn’t matter because no matter what the name, I am forever changed by his words and strength. He has physically nothing in this material world besides his dog and backpack. But he has EVERYTHING because he has been saved. Amazing!
