ann kiemel

i pulled out of my

driveway, heading for

the freeway to sacramento.

jan is finally home from back

surgery and i was on my way

to be with her while tom was

at work.

i live about ten miles from town.

by the side of the road,

with a big, solid rod of some

kind, stood an unshaven,

almost toothless man. heading

for the stop sign, i couldn't get the

image of him out of my mind.

what would Jesus do?

there was something wrong

with this picture, and i know

it might seem foolish, but i

felt compelled to turn my car

around, and see if God needed me

to assist Him with this

seemingly broken man.

he squinted at me through

stunning, almost-blinding

morning sun.

"hi, sir....where are you headed?"

he proceeds to tell me his car

gave out on him a couple hours

ago, and he was walking home

to get a part. that he was a

mechanic in lodi. hmmmmm.

"sir, do you know Jesus?

because He sure knows you,

and He cares about everything

that matters to you."

he vehemently shook his head

"no"!!!!! he wasn't interested.

  

i quietly spoke. doors locked.

my window partially down.

when i asked about the heavy

rod he was carrying. he told

me it was his walking pole.

"well, maybe you didn't notice,

but you whacked my rear view

mirror off, and i can see pieces

of it right now, around your feet.

i forgive you the way Jesus

forgives us."

pulling away,

i think of a little market,

and i swing by. buying a

bottle of 7-up...and getting

a little cash, i drive back to

the road where i'd left the broken

man, loved by God. 

i keep my distance. remain in my car....

but press the window down

again.

as i hand him the cold drink,

and a couple bills, i begin to

sing to him.

"freely, freely

you have received...

freely, freely give.

go..in My Name, and because

you believe, others will know

that l live."

"don't forget...Jesus loves you."

not a thank you or a smile.

no gratitude or ...

"i'm sorry about your mirror."

but,

Jesus says we are to

love our enemies and do

good to those who flunk

in kindness.

we are all runners in the RACE.

not the10k or boston marathon.

the run for eternity. and we are

to bring all we can with us.

i don't always know how to

run up the rugged hills, or how

to help others really understand

how imperative the Race is. we

are simply called to love. may

God empower each of us to run,

and by His grace, win.