Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him.” Mark 10:21
The end is a strange place to start. My wife Judy and I spent a couple of weeks in England and Scotland. The first part was God stuff, good stuff and the second part was Sabbath stuff, good stuff. But all things come to an end, and it was time for us to head home. On our last night there we booked a hotel near the airport because we had an early flight. It was indeed close, but it still required us to take a short ride on the Tube (aka the subway…not the kind that makes sandwiches but the kind you ride on).
So, we walked the short distance to the station and there was the train…we were right on time. Even though it was 5:30 am, there were still plenty of people on the train, and we all looked strangely alike. We all were wearing comfortable clothing suitable for traveling and we all had a variety of baggage. We went to one end of the train car…the only place where there were seats… and grabbed one. It was there that we noticed that not everyone was alike…and not everyone was traveling.
I don’t mean to be harsh but as soon as we sat down, we noticed an unpleasant smell. It was like someone had lost their cookies and it wasn’t cleaned up properly. It was about then that I noticed a man slouched and sound asleep in a seat kinda across from us. At first, I thought he was going to the airport and to work but as I looked closer, it was obvious that he was homeless. His clothing was deeply stained and even his skin was darkened by too many hard days and times. As I looked…I was grieved.
I can honestly say there was no judgement when my gaze found him. There was no judgement when I realized he was the source of that unpleasant odor. What there was can best described as sadness, as empathy. As I studied his weary body and stained backpack, and clothing three things came to mind. First, this meager life he was living was all that he would have here. He would never have the plushness of my comfortable American life. Second, I realized that if he slipped into eternity very few would care. There probably would be no family, no funeral, no nothing.
The last thought was this. That God, the same God that loves me, loved him. The same Jesus that died for me, died for him. He was infinitely valuable to the One who created him. All of that is true for him and it is true for every person we see…whether wandering aimlessly the streets of Harrisburg or living comfortably in one of our finest neighborhoods. God loves everyone—the same.
He was still asleep as we departed the train, but I can still see him there. I truly hope that one day he finds Jesus…the one Person who can change his present and his future. I hope that for you too. Everyone needs Jesus. So, regardless of your station in life know that there is Someone who cares. Know there is Someone who, no matter what we are facing, is big enough, strong enough and caring enough to declare, “I’ve got this.” Bro. Dewayne
Grits with Grace 