Jan 22nd, 2021: Unexpected Encounter

 A beggar stock illustration. Illustration of begging - 15816145

As my wife and I were walking to our car after leaving a Vietnamese grocery store when a man approached us for money. We told him we don't give money, but we would love to buy him some food. He told us he needed a jug of milk. My wife asked me to stay with him when she went to get it. 


He is not homeless. He has a place to stay, but he spends much of his social assistance funding on his rent. He mentioned his inability to keep a job because of his anger. His doctor told him that he suffers from a form of mental illness. He has no family, and he doesn't keep in touch with his siblings. After my wife returned with the milk, he asked us for our names. He said that he would like to pray for us whenever he gives thanks to God for his care. We prayed for him before saying goodbye. 


I was thankful for the encounter with this fellow. God uses it to remind me that I need to be aware of the least of these instead of being so preoccupied with things that I have no control over. After all, it was a holy moment because God allowed it to happen. Nothing is accidental in the realm of God's sovereignty. My heart was still, and for a moment, I was free from all of the political troubles of the day. 


Sometimes our unexpected encounter with the poorest of the poor reveals the greatness of God. It helps me to disregard the folly of this life. We have seen too much of that recently.


"Be present in all things and thankful for all things." -Maya Angelou


"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." - Matthew 25:40

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