Slow Walker

Friday night presented me with an unexpected gift. While waiting for my food at a fast food restaurant, I noticed a homeless man behind me with really long hair and a really long bushy beard.  I asked him if I could buy him some food.  He said he thought he had enough for a crunchy taco, but I wanted to give him some money so he could eat more then or later. "The money is for food," I told him as I looked in his eyes. 

He asked if he could pray for me so we wandered over to a booth where he had set his backpack and blanket.  From within his pack he pulled out a leather-bound Bible that had the Lord's Prayer printed on the front of it.  This man's name was Slow Walker; he even had a dog tag around his neck to prove it.  The Bible cover was slowly unzipped, the reading glasses were found and Slow Walker invited me to read something to him.  He had been praying for me as we sat there unbeknownst to me, and I was reassured  by my new friend that the Lord was over there and over there and right there. 

We visited while I ate my dinner and this man asked me to pick something to read to him because he wasn't educated and couldn't really read well.  In my mind I asked God to quicken to me a scripture to share.  The one I received was 2 Timothy 1:7; we have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.  Well, Slow Walker really seemed to like that one! 

He asked me what I would want if I could have anything in the whole world.  I didn't get to tell him my answer because he was already showing me his penny trick by the time I had come up with something.  So, here is the gift: what I realized is that what I want more than anything is to have such unwavering faith and trust in Christ that I never doubt or worry or become anxious - ever.  The other part of my gift was having the opportunity to meet this seemingly simple man.  May God bless you Slow Walker and keep you in His ever present care!

Just Being in God's Presence

Today I was just sitting, contemplating, wondering; and then I remembered to say "I trust you, Jesus." My mother-in-law gifted me with a devotional book entitled Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. A few weeks ago, the last line of the daily devotion reminded me to cast my care and voice out loud that I place my trust in my Savior.  For so long that seemed like a "no brainer", of course I trust you Jesus!  But do I really? Really?  To put my trust in God is to go against the norm of the world's ways. The way of fixing, soothing, fretting -because it has become habit.  Making my mind up to purposefully trust Jesus is an everyday challenge.  Habits take dedication to create or replace. Sometimes I wish I could turn my brain off. Oh to be able to be completely silent in God's presence and only hear Him. It is available; excuse me won't you, while I go practice resting in the presence of our God.