Saw “A” from a distance at the lake. His hands went up waving big.
This jovial older man always has something fun to say as I run past him.
The only time I have stopped to talk to him was when he saw me and said “Annette?” And I was like “No, Teresa.” He said “Oh, I thought you were Annette that walks with her mom!”
Today, I thought “I wanna know if he’s a Christian.”
So, as we almost passed each other, I stopped. Me on one side and him on the other side of the street, standing about 10 feet apart.
A: Now, what’s your name again?
TT: Teresa
A: You training for the Boston?
TT: No, but I am training for a marathon.
A: I ran all 48 states.
TT: Marathons?
A: Yep, now I just walk 3-4 miles a day.
He tells me he is a 75 and a widower.
A: I got….well, lemme see…6 kids…I almost forgot my daughters!
A: My daughter called me the other day. She lives in Florida and said she went to the store and couldn’t find paper towel rolls. So, I got 4 rolls and mailed them to her.
I asked if he went to church or if he was a Christian. He told me he hadn’t been to church since his wife died, but that he talks to God every day and tells Him “I don’t understand what’s happening (Coronavirus).”
I told him that God changed my life at 22.
He told me he used to read the Bible to his wife when she couldn’t read anymore. He said “Her name is Alice.” I love that he talked of his late wife in the present tense.
He said he goes to visit Alice’s sister at the nursing home….that he knew Alice would like that.
A: Now, I know you’re not 18, but how old are ya?
TT: I am 42.
A: You got a family?
TT: I have never been married.
A: I can’t believe that! You have never been married?
TT: Nope, God will bring my husband when He’s ready.
As we are talking, a car pulls up and parks. Out gets a couple with a dog. “A” assures me the dog wants the ball in his pocket, as the dog barked loudly at us.
“A” doesn’t know a stranger.
After we parted ways, “A” must have walked straight up to the man, holding his dog’s leash, wearing a face mask.
All I heard, as I ran away, was “Hey, bro, 6 feet….social distancing.”
I laughed to myself.
Later, I ran by “A” again. He said “I was JUST thinking I CAN’T believe you’re not married yet!”
TT: God’s timing, “A.”
I was still running when “A” pulled up beside me as he was leaving the park.
Window rolled down, he said “Teresa, I won’t forget your name.” Then followed it with something to the effect of me impacting the world.
One person at at time.
If we will stop running and engage a stranger.
This might be our biggest impact on the Coronavirus.
To slow down.
The other night I went to bed and God told me to read “Hebrews 13:2.”
I had no idea what it said. He does that frequently.
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,
for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
