August 23rd, 2010
Surprised (again) by the Holy Spirit
We have a pantry set up in the garage to house all the food we serve to the homeless community in the riverbed. And since we do, why not open it up to serve families that we know who are struggling to make ends meet – after all, we have plenty of food – fresh, frozen, canned …
We currently have 12 families that come each week. One of the more interesting stories is there was a Hispanic family who just happened to be driving by and noticed food in our garage. She asked Noel in Spanish if we sold food. No, we don’t but do you need food? He proceeded to explain what it is that we do and invited her to take food for the week – she’s been with us ever since – shopping weekly. Today, she came to shop with her elderly mom. A little lady from a small town in another country – she hugged me and said something in my ear that sounded suspiciously like a blessing – but I don’t speak Spanish so she could have been saying, “your zipper is open” for all I know. After this family shopped she asked me if she and her mom could pray for us. I had another friend with me so we all held hands and she began to pray – these women prayed a prayer that deeply touched my soul. I have no idea what they said but they were interceding for me and Noel and this ministry, praying fervently to Abba. Tears welled up in my eyes and my friend touched deeply as well.
My life has become a freeway of very interesting intersections – you’re not supposed to slow down on the freeway, but in this metaphor, but that’s what seems to be happening. I go my this highway at a rapid rate of speed – doing good, what we think God has called us to do but sometimes missing the scenery around us/me. Then comes the intersection and the stop sign and a ginormous blessing from the most unlikely sources! She didn’t speak my native tongue but spoke the ancient language of the Holy Spirit.
While I’m on the subject of being blessed. We were at the riverbed a couple weeks ago – we bring lunch to the homeless community on Sundays when the local soup kitchen is closed. While we were driving by to make the u-turn, one of our friends who I call The Captain, was peddling feverishly in the opposite direction – we got to the park, set up and began to serve when he came flying up on his bike to us with a package in his hand…. Breathlessly he said – “here, I caught some BIG ol’ (expletive) catfish and I thought you’d like these!! He handed us two big fillets wrapped up. Ah… again, my heart swells with joy from these amazing encounters…none of them expected and all of them change our lives.
