Where have they flown?

 In July of 2019, almost a year after my cancer diagnosis, I finished working on a page I call my Salvation Sheet.  I was saved in 1980 and lived in fear that someday God would bring someone into my life He wanted me to tell about my faith and salvation.  From time to time He did that. 

In 2019, I finally sat down at my computer and began assembling verses and principles about salvation in a way that was concise and logical.  After about two months of revising, condensing and formatting, it was ready.  Often I used the website Gotquestions.org to find the references to back up the principles I had learned over the years.  I loaded my sheet onto a thumb drive and printed a dozen copies at the Library.  The first of many dozens.  Where have they traveled?  Like children with a life of their own. 

John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again^[b] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”And  In John 6:44, Jesus says: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”   I have never pursued anyone, waiting for God to bring them into my life so I could share His message with them, always involving a little story.  I’ve been able to offer my sheet to the man who helped me when I ran out of Gas on France Avenue during rush hour, a group of elderly gentlemen having a Geritol hootenanny, and the man who needed something to read on the Super Bus to Chicago.  One of my most moving stories involves a Viet Nam vet on a stifling August afternoon.  I had just gotten a large ice water at McDonalds and came up to the man at the stoplight near Har Mar.  He had all his belongings with him and I was the third car back waiting to make a left-hand turn.  When he got to my car the only thing I had to offer was my ice water, not even a salvation sheet.  When he took  the water, I told him “God said to tell you He loves you.”  His reply:  “I sure hope so.” 

 Matthew 25: 35-40:  I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? , 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'  I pray God has this man tucked under His wing. 

On a beautiful summer evening, I rode the light rail downtown St. Paul to attend a play.  Coming home I sat near an old woman in a heavy wool coat, sound asleep, carrying all her possessions in Target bags.  The only thing I had for her was half the roll of quarters I had used for my fare.  To make sure she didn’t overlook them I bent down and put my arm around her shoulders to wake her and give them to her.  She was both delicate and ethereal, not the faintest odor from her old coat, her neatly brushed hair or her delicate smile.  To myself, I refer to her as “my angel.” Hebrews 13:2 “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Dozens more have been given to strangers on street corners hold unreadable signs,  always responding with a sincere and humble “God bless you.”  People with all their belongings, people packed for traveling, women who are bruised or missing teeth who would have stories of their own to tell. Sometimes God prompts me to go around the block and come back a second time.  Healthy, sick, sweltering in August, shivering in April.  People I have seen in the past who catch my eye with a hopeful look.  How fortunate I have been.   God gave me a love of writing and then gave me the perfect assignment. “Thank You” has always come from somewhere deep inside of me and the strangers and I say “Thank You” at the same time.  Both a bit surprised.