Was This an Encounter?

Your plans can change!

https://static.wixstatic.com/mp3/2431c4_86123cf48f634bb990de7e8a556caf13.m4a

One Year Ago

It was an ordinary morning as I was headed to summer school. It was the same week for Vacation Bible School. I was driving when I saw her: a young girl on the side of the road, holding a baby, no sidewalk, no shelter - just her, the baby, and the Texas heat. Cars swerved to avoid her, some even veering left just to keep going.

But something in me wouldn't let me pass. It wasn't a loud voice. It was more like a quiet insistence that I needed to stop.

And I did.

I had never done anything like that before. I didn't know her name, I didn't know her story, But I knew I couldn't leave her behind.

Just a few feet away, I was able to pull over onto this narrow easement. There was just enough space to get over and ask her where she was headed and to get in the car for safety. She mentioned that she needed to get to Fiesta to get formula for her baby. I popped the trunk for her to get the stroller in after she placed the car seat with her beautiful baby boy, who showed no signs of distress.

The Ride.

As we were headed to Fiesta, I listened to her cry and her situation. I asked if she believed in God and she buried her face in her hands. She said yes, "I prayed last night." I don't remember what I said next, but I prayed, and she received the prayer. I cannot tell you what I said in that moment. I felt peace, calmness, and no fear. We reached the destination, maybe 3 miles up the road. As she was getting the stroller and her baby, I couldn't help but recognize the peace, the soft glow, the stillness, that quieted everything around him. I offered to come in and help, because I had no cash. She immediately said no that was ok, she just needed to get to the store. I offered the Gatorade that I had and insisted that she follow up with the emergency advice she received the night before from the authorities and to call back to them for a safe ride home. She said Thank You, and I was off to work.

The adrenaline.

I pulled in to work, quickly. Rushed in looking for someone to tell... to cover my room so I could go back to make sure they were ok to get back home. The time moved quickly, as everyone was in their place for work and I too had no time left but to head to my class.

Vacation Bible School.

This all occurred on a Wednesday. I felt so full of adrenaline still going afterwork. I wanted to get home and rest. I didn't go to VBS. I attended the following day, Thursday. I learned that our class watched a show in the sanctuary, called THE ENCOUNTER. I didn't think much of the title, at the time. We were about to participate in a game for that day's VBS activity. Friday would be a carnival at the church for the children, so i didn't plan to attend.

THE ENCOUNTER.

That Friday, after work, I decided to find the movie that was watched on Wednesday. There it was, The Encounter, on YouTube.

In the movie, there's an opening scene where drivers keep passing up a girl on the side of the road. And then a voice speaks directly to the driver: "Pick her up." He ignored, and the same voice speaks to another driver: "Pick her up". He complies.

Everything inside me stirred. I can't remember who I called to share.... My voice filled with excitement, the adrenaline.... the same feeling came over me.

This was an encounter. Not just a stranger in need, but with God Himself-nudging me, using me, and confirming it days later through a movie I wasn't even supposed to see but experienced the morning of the showing at VBS.

WORTHY REFLECTION:

Some encounters don't come with a booming voice or a flashing sign. Sometimes they may come quietly, through a feeling we can't explain- a push to act, a whisper in the spirit.

And when we follow it, we walk straight into a divine appointment.

PRAYER:

Lord, our omnipotent God, help me to recognize YOUR VOICE - whether it's loud or still and small. Let me be willing to pause, to act, and to obey when You call me to love a stranger or go out of my way. May I never overlook an opportunity to be Your hands and feet in someone's moment of need. Amen