On the way to church today (6/1/2014)…

I enjoy my ride to church every Sunday morning. I spend that special time talking to God, praying, and listening to praise music on the radio. This lifts my spirits and prepares my heart for the day ahead. I was six miles from my exit when I noticed a woman on the side of the interstate with a small black bag. She was sitting on the ground and appeared to be looking for a ride though she was not holding a sign. I did not feel a strong thud in my spirit to stop; however, there was the awareness of choice. Drive on by or stop? I thought about those options as I drove past her at 70 mph. That seesaw was working in my mind, and I decided to take the next exit and turn around. I had no plan past that point and would trust the Spirit to lead. I prayed as I drove, which turned out to be 10 miles round trip. She was still there, standing up with her thumb out and pulling her bag behind her. She did not have the appearance of a person walking the roads. She was wearing nice clothes, her hair was clean, and her appearance was only slightly untidy. I had driven to church every Sunday on this route for several months and had never seen anyone hitchhiking in this area, until today.

I exited, turned to get back on the entrance ramp in the opposite direction, and pulled safely over on the side of the pavement. She saw me and starting walking towards my vehicle. I got out and spoke to her. She said she needed to get to the East Coast. She put her bag in the back seat and sat down in the front seat but did not close her door. As we talked further I sensed that she was becoming very uncomfortable. I felt calm and reassured while she was speaking, without fear or internal alarm. She finally asked for some money to buy a bus ticket. I explained to her that I had no cash on me as I had put my last twenty dollars in the gas tank and that I was on my way to church. She hopped out of the car and said, “I can’t do this. This is not going to work.” As she opened the back door to retrieve her bag, she added, “The church needs to wake up and help people like me. You’re going to hell.” With that she slammed the door and marched away from the vehicle back down the entrance ramp. Her words bounced off me as I lifted her in prayer and accelerated onto the interstate.

I was a little early when I got to town, so I stopped at the local McDonald’s for a sausage biscuit and some coffee. I recognized an elderly lady sitting in a booth enjoying her breakfast with a friend. I had seen these women almost every Sunday morning when I stopped at this location, and I decided to speak. I smiled and asked if they attended church anywhere in the area. They smiled back in recognition, the way strangers do who see each other in the same place on a regular basis. The short stocky woman explained that she goes to one Methodist church and her friend goes to a different Methodist church in the same town. I laughed and said I was going to invite them to my church up the road. She invited me to her women’s group that meets on Tuesday mornings; however, I explained that I was employed full-time and could not attend. After speaking a few more minutes, I wished them a good week and said I would look for them next Sunday.

Church was awesome. The praise worship and the message were inspiring, and my soul was overflowing as I headed home on the interstate. My thoughts returned to the woman with the black bag. I did not see her when I drove past the spot where she had been standing earlier in the day. Perhaps she had found a ride, or maybe she had chosen a different direction. I lifted her in prayer for God to extend His mercy over her and keep her safe. I thanked Him, once again, for rescuing me from the deep pit I had sunk into in the past and for giving me love and life. We all make a choice to walk in darkness or light. If we say we do not have to choose, or if we want to refuse the responsibility of choice, we have made a decision. I prayed this woman would choose the light.