It's late and I should be going to bed so that I can get a good nights rest, but my heart is heavy and I need to post this.
Please if you're a praying person pray for a man named Mike from Kenya. Who is Mike? I do not know really. I know he's a man who got my last $3 tonight. I know he's a man who craves a kind word from a total stranger. I know he's a man who does not think that God knows him.
He was just a guy sitting on a bench asking for money. Something we probably see everyday and either pass it by, or ignore it. Typically I don't carry cash so I never have anything to give. Tonight though I had $3 on me and without even thinking I just handed it to the guy. $3 made this guy the happiest man in the world. It was like a ray of hope was shinning on him.
I thought nothing of it.
After dinner my group headed back to our cars and this man was still on the bench, still asking for money. I reminded him of the $3 I gave him earlier and he said he remembered and that I had no idea how great that was. I stopped, turned around and did something I've never done before.
I asked him his name.
Do you know how powerful a question that is? As soon as I said it he smiled and said "Mike Yeager" (I could have the last name wrong), "I am from Kenya, Mike from Kenya". It was like by him telling me this I wouldn't get him confused with someone else. So I simply replied "Hello Mike from Kenya, I'm Eric".
I shook his hand.
He took mine and then with his other hand he took mine like an embrace you give a long friend and simple said "Pray for me".
So I did.
A short little pray "Father bless my friend Mike here tonight. Show him he is not forgotten and that your love for him is as strong as the day he was born. Guide my friend Mike through life and show him your will".
Mike said thank you and asked that I continue to pray for him. He said he did not think God knew him right now. I walked away promising to pray for him and my last words to this man where simple.
"God knows you, he's always known you and he will always know and love you."
Aug 18, 2008 at 10:59 AM Dude,
THAT
IS
AWESOME!!
Way to hear the Spirit's whispers and act. I think it changed you as much as it did him.
Boy, I sound unusually churchy today.
Aug 25, 2008 at 11:50 PM Every time I read your blog, I cry. Thanks for sharing!
Sep 30, 2008 at 9:36 PM Eric- I love this so much. It warms my heart to think of how much a little action of yours touched Mike's life. He will probably remember that for a very long time if not forever and you can rest assured that God is smiling on your actions... what an inspiration! Thank you.