Make the Journey

He was challenged in too many ways. He was one of those guys who was not mentally or physically sharp. For him, the easy became difficult. From the difficult life, he knew that he had done what God had not intended. Isn't it somewhat strange that even when we are far away from God we know God.

He heard that a local church gave out food and clothing. So he found the church. To get there, he had to rely on public transportation. (I think every American ought to have to travel by public transportation for one month each year just to understand how difficult life can be relying on public transportation) So the journey was longer than it was for most folks.

He arrived at the church where he was greeted by one of the church members who volunteers. She graciously welcome him and cared for his needs. He thought it was strange as he picked up his groceries from the altar of the church--where worship was held. He noticed that there was a small altar near by so he stopped and prayed. He wept as he prayed. Picking up his bags of food and clothing he left. Before he left, the woman hugged him and assured him of God's love.

During the weeks that followed, the woman who cared for him would see him at the church to get food and things he needed. Each time she noticed that before his left he would pray. Each time she noticed that he would leave weeping.

Finally one day as he was leaving with his eyes full of tears, she asked him why each time he left he was filled with tears. He told her that he left the church each time burdened by his sinfulness and emptiness in life. She replied with the words, "Jesus has died to allow you to be free from your sins! Come Sunday to worship and receive Jesus as your Savior!" It was as if no one had told him part that part of the story. She told him that she would meet him at 10 a.m. at the door Sunday morning. He assured her that he would be there.

Sunday morning she stood at the door at 10 a.m. He did not arrive. She waited at the door throughout the service. He did not arrive. Towards the end of the service, she finally went to the altar. She was so disappointed. He was not coming. She knelt with a friend and lifted him in prayer asking God to relieve the burden from his life that was already difficult.

As she ended her prayer, she turned to return to her seat and through the door she saw him arrive. He was dressed up in a coat with an old tie that was way too long for him. He apparently had thought there was a dress code in coming to church. His clothes were wringing wet with perspiration. He ran to meet her. "Am I too late to receive Jesus as my Savior?"

She assured him he was never too late. She gathered the prayer team of the church along with the pastor. They prayed with him. He wept again. But when the rose to his feet he did so with a new confidence that all could see.

"I thought you were not coming" she said to him. And then he explained. He had left his house three hours early to make sure he would get there. The bus schedule for the weekend is entirely different than during the weekday schedule that he was used to. He had caught three different buses to get within a mile and half of the church. And then that last mile and a half, he RAN to get to the worship service.

As I heard this story at our Annual Conference this week, I was deeply moved. There was a church who had reached out to those who were in need. There was a compassionate greeter or church lady that invited. And there was a child of God who needed to know that in the most difficult places in life, there is a Savior that wants to lift your life's burdens.

It also made me think of how easy so many of us have it to make it to worship and we are a no show. We will not make the journey.

Life is difficult. Do not journey alone. Make the journey to worship God. Your life will never be the same.