It had been an interesting experience eating at the bar Sunday evening. While I ate I was reading in Whisper, by Mark Batterson, how God puts us in a specific place, at a specific time, for a specific reason. I thought, “Why do you have me here, Lord, of all places?” Turns out he was just setting me up for what happened on the way back to the hotel.
I’m a country boy in the big city, so I was a little apprehensive walking back to my hotel. I kept glancing down dark alleys for possible threats. Imagine my surprise, then, when a disheveled man on a bike suddenly appeared out of the dark and pulled up next to me.
Speaking rapidly, as if knowing my first inclination was to send him packing, he spun a tale of not being from Indy, needing to catch a bus to make it to a Bible study, but being $17 short.
Initially, I told him “no”, but then I remembered what I’d just read, back in the bar. Maybe this was what Batterson was talking about.
We talked a bit and I learned his name was Bob. I doubted he was telling me the truth, but I ended up giving him the last $11 I had in my wallet. Before he left I asked if I could pray with him. He enthusiastically agreed and, taking his hand, I prayed for God to guide and care for him.
As I was turning to leave, Bob shouted, “Read Psalm 91!” I laughed and replied, “And you read Jeremiah 29:11! It says, ‘For I know the plans I have for you…. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” Bob waved and pedaled away.
As I watched Bob go, I wondered if I’d made a huge mistake. He was probably going to go blow the money on alcohol or something worse. But then again, maybe not. Maybe our encounter will make Bob think. Maybe he’ll take a new direction. I’ll never know.
One thing I do know – unless we are willing to give people a chance, to look beyond their exterior, to take a risk on them, we’re never going to have a chance to share God’s love with them. And that’s too big a risk not to take – even if it does cost me a few bucks!