I did not know who will meet there, but I know Yet, I was not consciously aware of this.
The place was packed I found an unused seat (there were two actually), asked those nearby if it was taken, and a man said he would move so I could sit there. Suddenly I heard the Spirit of God in me and I was able to talk to him, and to be ready to enter in - their life if they only let me in
Then a woman came out, almost ten years older than me, she started selling a magazine only the homeless sell. She had a successful morning. There were plenty of words and a lot of sharing. Besides, she spoke faintly and my poor sense of hearing in noisy places could not make sense. Dullness.
I sat there and ate, sipping coffee For about five minutes
Then I sensed God He was unusually quiet for this party room He looks ready, even sad. I asked him, 'what's your story?' He started to open, telling me about his work, his family, his injured leg. There was something special about this young man, but not special as the world sees it. As we chatted, I shared my life with him; The more I opened up, the more I sensed a curiosity and discomfort. I was tempted, but no way oh Lord!
About the third or fourth question in I said, 'Do you have faith?' It was almost as if he was expecting the question 'I read,' he said. 'What?' did not know I left it a few seconds. Then he said it ... 'I'm not religious, but I read the Bible; I love it. '
'I asked.' 'I started the New Testament, but have you ever read the Proverbs?' 'It's like changing your meaning from one day to another - different messages of wisdom.' A brief pause of seconds ensued. I sensed his behavior and said, 'Be patient, do not overpower the moment with you!'
As I obeyed, staying in the awkward moment, I watched him thinking, and I watched him develop the conversation. I was trying to pace the interaction for him, to allow him to be the real inquiries.
Finally, after what was probably only fifteen seconds, I asked him, 'what proverb are you thinking right now?' and he shared two - exegeting them both, passion rising. Then his response was swift, 'What about you? Do you like Proverbs? ' 'Yes,' I said, and the Spirit gave me the say Proverbs 27:19 and 4:23.
We established that we were there people and to help them. I offered him my number, which he wrote down Then, having asked him many questions about his goals and dreams and joys, I asked him, 'Are you troubled?'
Another long, awkward pause - God doing business within him
Part of his visual response was pain, another part was denied, another part protection - he'd only known me a little over thirty minutes - was I safe? 'I've got many little problems, nothing worth sharing ...' 'Every problem you have is important to God,' I responded. Another long pause.
Soon afterwards he decided to leave And I started chatting with the old woman
Within four hours I received a text message from the young man outlining his key sadness, asking if I would be willing to help. Prayer answer Lord God, help me serve him well
I write this and share it for one reason ... God is living and active, everywhere, and there are people everywhere I write not for kudos, but for God's will to be able to connect with him God showed me the power of pacing the conversation, and the value of living in the awkward moment, to allow the young man the precious time to think, to trust, to ponder what he wanted to say