A Ray of Light

I have not written a post since November. I have been in my tunnel and everything has been black and dreary and I didn't feel like I had anything worthwhile to say to anyone.

Today, however, a ray of light broke through! I want to share a story with you... a young lady who is having a much, much  harder time than me (no way to describe her pain) went to the drugstore. Sitting in her car cutting coupons, she noticed a woman going through the trash. After a bit, the woman went to the car beside her and tapped on the window. She asked if the lady had any spare change. The woman said no. The woman then came up to her window and asked the same question. The young lady replied no and went back to cutting coupons. All of a sudden she felt terrible.  She did have a couple of dollars. She hesitated just a little and then got out of her car and went after the woman. She had walked behind the drugstore and was sitting on a bench with a man. They were not exactly clean and their clothes were dirty, two bags sat beside them as if maybe they were homeless.  The young lady went up to her and said she had been wrong. She did have a little money. When she handed it to her, the woman said, "you mean you came to find me and give me this"?  She looked at the money and said it was enough to buy a pound of bologna and a loaf of bread at Food Lion across the street.  She thanked her again and told her she must truly have a loving heart.

The young lady went inside and did her shopping. She also bought eight packs of peanut butter crackers and two gatorades. Once outside she went back to where the woman was. She gave her the crackers and the gatorade and told them she hoped it would help them.   The couple was so surprised and thanked her over and over.

When I heard the story, I remembered the verse in the Bible that says when you do something for the least of these you do it for Jesus.  Perhaps today, this young lady had an opportunity to do something for Jesus.  In the midst of the horrific week she and her husband have had, this opportunity happened and she responded with her heart. 

Max Lucado says we never expect to see Jesus in a storm.  But it is in the storms of life when he has our attention most.  We cannot go where God is not. Look over your shoulder; that's God following you.  Look into the storm; that's God coming toward you.

I do not have any answers to why things happen that put us in the tunnel.  It is dark and it hurts.  But, if we are sensitive (as the young lady in the story was), God will send a ray of light to us.  I belive that.