A few weeks ago, I went into town early with my dad to attend a meeting with a group he started a few years ago called the R12 Alliance. It's a group of Christian business people who see their life/careers as their mission field for sharing the Gospel. Some are accountants, self employed, and car salesmen.
As my dad and I stumbled into the hotel and pressed the button in the elevator for the top floor, I blew my nose for the 240th time that morning. Man, it was early, I was hungry, and sick of these allergies. I followed my dad into the Fireside meeting room and saw a bunch of men sitting around a large, square table. Some I recognized or new from church and family. Others I had never seen before in my life.
I spotted a couple chairs opened to my right and proceeded to sit down near the corner by a broad-shouldered man with a large smile. He stood up and introduced himself to me.
Jim began to lead the conversation and I scanned the menu. That chicken fried steak sounded good and my stomach was already turning early this morning.
One of my most recent favorite things to apply in my communication studies is posture. In my speech class last fall, we took a whole day talking about non-verbal communication and what your posture says about yourself.
I took a quick look around the table. Most of the men had their arms crossed in front of them (including myself), which gives off the sense you're not listening...however...sometimes I really just like crossing my arms, so that one can be debatable. Some other men were seated sideways, had one hand on the table in front of them and the other propping up their chin.
But one man stood out. His posture was unlike the others. He was hunched over the table with his arms stretched out in front of him and hands folded together. Every once in a while, he would bring his hands to his chin and close his eyes as if he was praying. Straight in front of him was a large, brown Bible that was well-loved. I couldn't figure out his whole countenance, but I was thinking This guy is a man of God. I don't know exactly what it is about him, but he's allowing God to lead him.
A few minutes went by and Jim opened for this man to share what had been going on in his life. I don't think anyone was expecting what he was about to share.
Apparently, he got caught in some bad business that basically took everything of his and now the FBI was meeting with him regularly because they figured him a criminal.
His wife left him and got married a few days after the divorce finalized.
He has four adopted kids that mean the world to him, but he hadn't seen them in almost 2 years. They were scheduled to come to Washington to visit, but since the FBI has the right to call him to Detroit anytime, his kids can't fly out to visit.
This large, strong man's face turned bright red and he couldn't stop the tears from pouring.
"I've lost everything. My wife. My kids. I can't sleep and I can't eat. I've lost so much weight. I just don't know what to do."
My appetite dissipated. My heart went out to him. I wanted to grow 3 times bigger, wrap my arms around him, and tell him everything was going to be alright. I just kept praying the rest of the time as the men encouraged through personal testimony and Scripture.
Before we left the conference room, I heard him say:
"I just want to smile again. I can't remember the last time I did."
And that's the story I originally wanted to write.
I wanted to ask whoever would be reading this to pray for him. Please pray for this man's spirits, the the Lord's comfort and peace would surround him.
But that's not the end.
Because I've waited so long to write this, I have more to the story.
I apologize for this lengthy post, but the end is so sweet.
I only work two days a week at my dad's office.
But a few weeks later, this man just so "happened" to walk in while I was there.
He had a smile on his face.
For a moment I wasn't sure if this was the same man. But it was.
I greeted him. He asked for my dad, but he was on the phone.
So I talked to him.
He got to see his kids for the first time in years.
They went to the movies for the first time.
He had life behind his eyes by the grace of God.
Wise counsel was encouraging him to move closer to his kids no matter what the cost,
so the last I heard, he's in Michigan now and I might not see him ever again this side of heaven.
I've never seen someone so down. So brokenhearted.
It is only a testimony of the outstretched arms of Jesus.
I was so worried every night that he might not reside on the earth for another day.
Seeing him with hope now gives me peace.
It doesn't mean I've stopped praying for him, but I've been giving a new prayer.
A prayer of thanksgiving.
Thank you, Lord, for Your protection, grace, and sustaining power.
You never give us more than we are able to stand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God
that was given you in Christ Jesus,
that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge
- even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you -
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift,
as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who will sustain you to the end,
guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1 Corinthians 1: 4-9 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
