Are you SEEING?

So there I was, off to a graduation party and I had to stop by the store to pick up some goodies to eat. As I walk into the store there is an older gentleman sitting on the bench, with grocery bags, a baseball cap, glasses......he was darling.  He smiled a gorgeous smile and said hello to me as I passed by. I returned his hello as I entered the store, did my shopping, returned to my car, and started on my way to the party.  As I was driving on Highway 67 and passing over Interstate 94, I saw a man walking on the opposite side of the road, carrying two heavy grocery bags, walking joyfully in the 98 degree heat during the hottest part of the day. It was the gentleman from the store!

 

Needless to say the Holy Spirit compelled me to turn around and go pick him up.  He accepted my offer of a ride and we began to chat.  He told me his name and all about the stores he went to: Aldi's and Pick-n-Save and commented on the prices of his items and how much he saved by purchasing his produce at Aldi's.  He was also proud that it only took him 90 minutes to walk to the store to get food for his family. 

 

Ok, did you hear me.....NINETY...that is 9-0 minutes to walk ONE WAY to the store.  That means going grocery shopping took this gentleman at least half a day.  Three hours alone in walking (he thought ahead and had lots of water with him for his dessert-like hike) plus another hour or two walking to two stores, shopping at each.  Now stop and think about that....

My mind and my heart were pricked..... 

• When was the last time you looked at the mundane things joyfully?
• When have you ever had your schedule demand three plus hours of walking just to provide your family with some food?  
• Would you do this task joyfully or laboriously?  
• Would you even had noticed him at the grocery store entrance had you been operating in your normal mode?  
• Would you have allowed your schedule to be interrupted to help someone you love WITHOUT begrudging your cost of time?  
• When was the last time or have you ever, had your day interrupted to help a stranger even though you had a schedule ahead of you?
• What if that was me? Would anyone stop? 

I drove him twenty minutes out of my way, saving HIM an hour and half of walking in fire blazing heat.  I sure was convicted and it changed my innermost being.  I need to be a vessel of God's love at all times. (Let's face it, we often are not!) I need to be open not only to helping those in need, but also by BEING AWARE of what and who is around me; who my path collides with. We are always being watched and our actions speak louder than our words....so think of all the interactions we have without even knowing it!  If someone were watching you from afar, what would they see? Would they see love, compassion, and joy? Or would they see someone on a mission without regard for his/her surroundings, self-absorbed with their to-do list of the day? 

 

Are your eyes and hearts open? 

 

Namaste, 

Trish