Day 365: Last day

Carl was missing a few teeth. He had been driving a cab up Rock Island street in Old Town, just north of Douglas. He had been driving slowly, apparently looking for the person he was supposed to pick up. He gave me a look, and I flagged him down.

I was kind of selective tonight. It's the last day of the project, and I didn't want to grab just anybody to pray for. But at the same time, I was in a hurry. I needed to get home so Mary could get off to a meeting. So I walked through Old Town and was almost back to my car when I stopped Carl.

I motioned for him to roll down his window, which he did. He was 40-something years old with a ball cap, glasses and those missing teeth. I asked to pray for him. He just looked at me. "Why?" he asked. So I told him about my project. "I just like to pray for one person everyday," I said. He considered that for a moment. "Well," he said, "I'm going to pick up a fare, otherwise I would let you."

That wasn't a good reason. "Don't you have 10 seconds? That's all it would take," I said. He didn't fight it. He seemed like a friendly guy, and he said I could pray for him. So I bowed my head and prayed a prayer of safety and blessing on him for the evening. Then I shook his hand. He told me his name was Carl. He thanked me then -- "God bless," he said as he drove away.

And so I walked back to my car, whispering praises to God, so thankful he carried me through this project. I know it was all Him the whole way. It couldn't have been me, because I would have found some excuse to quit. God didn't let me quit. And so he humbled me.

And maybe that's what he wanted all along -- to show me his power. Maybe he just wanted me to know that when he starts a project, he finishes it. People come into projects -- big ones and little ones -- with all our human frailties. I'm convinced that if it's worthwhile, we can't do it on our own. We need Him.

To everyone who's reading this, thanks again for all the prayers and support. And so that's it for now. I may reflect again on this later. But I don't know when that will be. I do know I'm not going to pray for someone tomorrow ... at least I don't think I will.

Day 364: Roy from Tulsa

He was a tall skinny guy, standing next to a little white car, filling up with gas at the Park City QuikTrip. I was getting gas, too, but I didn't wait long to ask him my question. He was, after all, the reason I was there.

The guy looked at me and then smiled really big. It was a nice smile. He struck me as a guy who had a lot of energy. He said I could pray for him, but, "May I ask why?" I told him I like to pray for someone everyday. That pretty much satisfied, and he stepped toward me so I could pray for him.

Afterward, we shook hands, and he asked me what my name was. His was Roy, and he was from Tulsa, traveling back home after visiting his parents in Nebraska. He was more than half way there now -- just two and a half hours left. I wished him a safe trip.

And then I got back into my car, knowing that I have just one day left in this project.

Today, I gave my testimony during church about this project. This comes almost exactly a year after my pledge to start it. The pastor's sermon was about witnessing -- where we tell of what God has done for us. That's what this project is about for me. It may be about other things for other people. But at the core of it for me, what God did in my life during this year, is show me what he can do. God did this, not me. But I got to be a part of his activity in the world. I am so thankful for that.

I'm also so thankful for all the prayers of support and the words of encouragement I've gotten along the way from people both inside and outside the church. (Thank you!) Part of this has been wondering what people think about all of this. Do people think I'm a kook? I don't really care, but it means so much to know there are praying and supportive people out there.

Day 363: Light bulbs

It amazes me how many light bulbs it takes to run such an ordinary household. And it's not just the quantity. It's the different variations in size -- the ones with the really small tips, the ones that are normal, the ones that are round, the ones that are oblong, the incandescent ones, the fluorescent ones. You get the point.

So I was standing in the light bulb aisle for a good 10 minutes trying to figure out what to buy. There was a tall guy stocking shelves next to me. So before I left, I stopped to ask to pray for him. He was fiddling with some empty boxes at the time, but he paused to look at me. "Why?" I told him I like to pray for someone every day.

He let that soak in, and then he just said "yes." It wasn't an eager "yes," or even a really reluctant one. He just agreed. So I prayed for him right there in the aisle. There wasn't much to say after that. So I thanked him and left.

Just two days left.

Day 362: Tattoos

I walked through Old Town and didn't find a good opportunity to pray for someone, so I got in my car -- frustrated -- and started to head for home. That's when I saw a guy walking down Mead Street just next to Douglas. So I pulled off immediately into a parking space and started walking toward him.

He didn't stop at first, so I had to work a little to get his attention. He was a young thin guy, in his 20s, with tattoos up and down his arms. He was wearing sagging pants. But he didn't really look all that tough.

I asked him my question, and he gave me that familiar look. "Pray for me? Why?" So I told him I like to pray for someone every day. "And you haven't prayed for anybody yet today?" he asked. Nope. "OK. Go ahead." So I prayed for him, that God would protect him and bless him.

"Thanks brother," he said, sticking out his hand to shake mine. I remember his hand was a little clammy and soft. But then it was over, and he was walking around the corner, headed east on Douglas.

Day 361: Last greeter

His name was John. He was short and stout, with a bushy beard, standing next to the doors at Walmart. This might be the last Walmart greeter I ever pray for. Maybe. (Who knows what I'll do tomorrow!)

There was nobody around as I was walking out of the store with some eggs and a brownie mix and an air filter -- not an unusual combination for me. It was one of those moments where there was a lull in the action at the front doors of Walmart. I took that for a sign and asked John whether I could pray for him.

He took one look at me and said, "Absolutely. You can pray for me any time." So I asked to pray for him right then and there, and he agreed. It was a short prayer. He thanked me, and I left.

I can't believe there's only four days left.

Day 360: A tip and a prayer

I’d been there before, sitting on a shuttle bus, waiting to get dropped off at the airport. The driver was a woman who wanted to know directly what airline I was flying. And then she spoke seriously into her walkie-talkie.

When we got to our stop, I let the other passengers get off before I handed her a tip and then asked her my question. She adjusted around in her seat to face me better, and then her whole head shifted backward and she said, “Pray for me?” It was the confused question, not sure what I was after.

So I told her I wanted to say a prayer for her quickly. The bus lane wasn’t busy at the moment. She didn’t seem to care about that. She just said that I could pray for her. She even smiled a little. So I prayed. Then I thanked her, hopped off the bus and walked into the New Orleans airport.

Day 359: Acme Oyster House

We went down to the French Quarter of New Orleans for dinner. There were people everywhere, and it got busier as it got later. Music poured out of the bars and restaurants along Bourbon Street. Employees at certain bars were out in the streets peddling attractions that no one needs to see.

I was really nervous going down there about finding someone to pray for. I wanted to find someone who might be open to hearing it, and the French Quarter to me seems to be such an inhospitable place for that. I'd been there the last time I was in New Orleans, and I even asked to pray for someone, but I didn't particularly enjoy being down there.

We went to Acme Oyster House, where a line of people extended out of the building. I was with two guys, one of whom is my brother-in-law, Tony. When we got to the front of the line, a security guard was sitting in front of the restaurant. He really was a New Orleans police officer, probably working an off-duty job. He was keeping a close eye on the place, which was very busy.

He quickly became my target, and I kept my eye on him while we waited. When we finally got inside, he was standing deeper in the restaurant, close to our table. So I just leaned in and asked him my question. He was a short, stout guy -- not fat, just very strong. It was loud in there, but he heard me just fine. I told him it was kind of an odd question, and he chuckled. But he didn't hesitate. He said I could pray for him right there on the spot, so I did, praying into his ear. He thanked me, and I headed for my seat.

Maybe 15 minutes later as he was walking through the restaurant, he put his hand on my shoulder and thanked me again. Tony, who was sitting across from me, gave me a funny look. "My project," I explained. He smiled. He knows all about it.

Day 358: Hilton Garden

It was just after 10 p.m. I'd gotten back to the hotel after a long day of being toted around New Orleans by some people I write stories for. I'd been thinking most of the evening about finding someone to pray for, especially during dinner. I kept looking at my watch. I don't want to miss a day, especially now.

But I stopped and talked to the hotel clerk, who was probably 60 years old with a very stern face. She listened to my request and in a very customer service oriented way, told me that I could pray for her. So I did. She bowed her head. And then she thanked me. "You have a nice night, sir," she said. And I went to my room.

Tonight I also got a chance to talk to the "Demo Diva." I wrote a story about her on a previous trip to New Orleans. She owns a demolition company and paints all of her equipment pink. But she's a reader of this blog. She was very encouraging to talk to. And if you have a building you need torn down -- of any size -- she's the person for the job.

Day 357: Waiting in Memphis

Her job was to stand in the airport, waiting for passengers coming in and out of the airline gates. She was to be on call if any of them needed help getting to their connections. She was leaning against one of those wheelchairs that they use to push folks down the terminal corridors.

She looked bored, so I stepped over to her and asked her my question. It was kind of loud in the airport, so I had to ask it again so she could hear me. But she said I could pray for her. She kind of mumbled it out, not sure what to say. But when I asked whether I could could pray for her right there on the spot, she agreed. So I did.

Afterward, she thanked me and shook my hand. Her grip was very weak. But she was smiling, still a little puzzled over what had just happened.

Day 356: Laughter

The clerk didn't look at us as we loaded our stuff onto the conveyor belt. Mary and the four kids were there, scurrying around taking care of things and chattering away. I stood poised with my debit card. This was at the Walmart in Newton. The clerk's name tag said "Angelica." She didn't look like she was having fun. She didn't talk to us. She didn't smile.

But that was about to change.

"I've got a question for you," I told her, and she glanced up. "Can I pray for you?" This stopped her momentarily, and she leaned in -- "What?" So I asked her again: "Can I pray for you?" She paused for a moment longer and then burst out laughing. It was the kind of laughter you get from someone who's a little uncomfortable. Maybe it was her defense mechanism.

She asked me why I would want to pray for her. I told her I like to pray for someone everyday. She recited my answer back to me, still laughing. She told me I could pray for her, and then she said she never had anyone say something like that to her. She said she didn't know how to respond. "Just know that God loves you," I said. She told me that she knew that. "And that someone is thinking about you," I added. Again, she repeated my words back to me.

This whole encounter lasted about a minute, but the defining feature was her laughter. She just seemed to think it was funny -- or maybe she just didn't know what to think. Even as we were walking off, receipt in hand, we could still hear her cackling behind us. Maybe she'll tell the whole store about it.

By the way, it was hard to squeeze a prayer into all that commotion, so I told her I would pray for her when I got home, which I did.

Day 355: Nebraska

He had Nebraska plates on his SUV, and a Nebraska t-shirt on. He was a tall, young guy -- no more than 30 years old -- carrying a drink and some snacks out of QuikTrip. I figured he was heading home. So I asked if I could pray for him. He looked at me like I was from Mars, shrugged his shoulders and said "Sure." Then he looked at me again like I was from Mars and turned and got into his vehicle and drove away.

I prayed for him later. It's a long drive back to Nebraska, and I was the last person he talked to. Maybe for the next few hours he would think about God and his relationship to Him.

Day 354: Never retire

I met Bill Kemp today. One of the most interesting things about him was the way he just stuck out his hand after I'd prayed for him and said, "I'm Bill Kemp." He hadn't objected at all to the prayer in the first place and, afterward, told me how he attended Word of Life Church.

"I can use all the prayers I can get," he said. One of the reasons for that, he told me, was because he's a grandfather. That got us talking a little bit. He has four grandchildren, and he cares for them very much. I asked Bill if he was retired so that he could spend time with them, but he told me he wasn't. He's an agent for State Farm Insurance. Earlier in his career, he was a teacher. "Tired, maybe, but not retired," he said. "There's nothing in the Bible that says anything about retiring." But in reality, I could see that Bill wasn't tired. He had plenty of energy.

Day 353: On my own time

He was driving a white construction truck. He was a blue-collar worker, talking on his cell phone and moving quickly round his truck. He cleaned out the inside, and then walked quickly inside to pay for his gas. He barely paused to look at me. He was probably 45 years old with longer hair and a very tan face.

He thought about my question and then said, "You may." I thought that was a very formal response. And then he said, "But do it on your own time." Then he went back to cleaning out his cab. I just thanked him and prayed for him as I drove home.

I wonder if that guy will think about it later. I wonder what his reaction will be when he realizes that there is some stranger out there who is thinking about him and taking him before God in prayer. To a lot of people, that would be a very comforting thought. Sadly, others might find it uncomfortable -- weird even.

Day 352: Vietnam vet

He was a short round guy. I bet he was about 70. He was wearing a hat that said something like, "I survived Vietnam." He moved very slowly as he filled up his car with gas. I asked him my question, and he turned slowly toward me with a weathered face and expressionless eyes. He kind of grunted out a "yes." But then he said something like, "not right now." And he began the slow journey around to the driver's side of his car, leaving me standing there.

I prayed for him on my way home.

Day 351: Evangelism

He was a stout guy with dark hair, probably in his 40s. I asked to pray for him, and he immediately said yes. No hesitation at all. So I prayed for him. Then we started chatting. He asked me how long I'd been doing my project and what kind of response people give. I estimated about seven in 10 people say yes, which I've found surprising. He wasn't surprised by that.

Turns out, he's a Christian who attends Grace Community Church in Newton. He does prison ministry. And he's involved in a program at his church, called Judgment House, where seekers can come and hear about the real question that all of us must answer during our lives. I could tell this was a guy -- his name was Brad -- who was on a similar journey to mine. We're convinced evangelism is an important part of our Christian walk.

Day 350: Alyce in Walmart

She was standing alone at her register, which was an odd sight. I had been cruising past all the registers only to find all of them with lines of people in them. Except for Alyce's. I took it as a sign from God.

So before I even had lugged my milk up on the conveyor belt, I asked her my question. She thought about that for a moment, and said that I could pray for her. Anybody could pray for her, she said. Then she asked what church I went to. So I gave her my credentials. That satisfied her, apparently. She didn't have time for me to pray for her right there, though. I told her I would pray for her later.

Her name badge said Alyce. And she was 60-something years old and told me about her shift. Some days, she works from 4 p.m. to midnight. There's more people in Walmart than you would think at midnight, she said, but many of them are very nice people.

Day 349: Marital problems

As I was headed to the gas station this evening -- my semi-usual trip -- the sky was lit up by the setting sun. The clouds were pink and purple, just an awesome sight.

I stopped at QuikTrip to get gas and pulled in next to a guy driving a silver, four-door sedan. He had dark hair with a few hints of gray, and a beard. I asked him my question. He paused, and then smiled and said it would be OK. So I prayed for him on the spot. Then we went back about our business -- but only for a moment.

The guy then stuck his head back around the gas pump and said, "I just wanted you to know that I'm at a place in my life where I'm in need of prayer." That caught my attention. I asked if he had anything in particular he wanted me to pray about. He told me he was having marital problems. His name was John. I told him I would keep him in my prayers.

This project will come to an end in a couple of weeks. But days like today make me think twice about that. Here was a guy who needed prayer, and maybe he has no one to pray for him. And he's not alone. There are tons of people out there in the same boat. They may not tell a stranger about their prayer needs -- like John did -- but some of them will. Things can get that bad.

So I prayed again for John and for reconciliation in his marriage -- and that maybe he would be drawn closer to God in all of this.

Day 348: Wichita PD

There was a cop sitting in our parking lot this morning. I saw him as I drove in and wondered about him. He was backed into a space, just sitting there. But his window was rolled down, enjoying what little non-blazing air he could for the day. It was a good opportunity for me, so I walked over to him.

He was pleasant but, as police officers tend to be, a little tense when I approached him. He greeted me. He probably gets lots of complaints and concerns and some element of danger during his days, so when I asked him my question, his face lit up like you wouldn't believe. It surprised me.

"Absolutely!" he said. "I would really like that." I told him about my project, and he nodded, saying I could pray for him right there. "I can use all the prayers I can get," he said. So I prayed a prayer of protection and guidance for him. Then we shook hands, and I headed into the office. That was a good one, I thought to myself.

Later, I discovered why he was sitting there. He was waiting for someone. In the afternoon, a group of police officers -- there must have been more like him stationed around Old Town -- pulled over a white BMW and arrested the driver on the spot. Then they spent a long time searching his car. This happened right outside our office. I don't know whether the police officer I prayed for was among those who stopped the guy.

Day 347: All white

Everything about him was white. He had the whitest hair possible. I thought maybe he was from Norway or Sweden. He was that blond. The guy was probably 45 years old. I found him standing in front of the Hotel at Old Town. It was in the early evening, and he was on the shaded side, which was good because it was more than 100 degrees outside.

Besides his hair, he was wearing a white shirt, white pants and white shoes. His skin was very pale, too. He was standing there with a bag waiting for someone. I stopped to ask him my question. He looked at me with a questioning look, and I thought for a minute maybe he didn't speak English. Maybe he really was from Sweden!

But finally he said "yes." It was so soft I could barely hear him. But I just ducked my head and prayed. Afterward, he gave me the quietest "thank you" possible. Then I left.

Day 346: A reluctant Jayhawk

He didn't want to. Oh, he really didn't want to. He wanted to get into his car and drive away and not look back. But he didn't. That, to me, is the miraculous part. After I'd asked the guy my question -- he was a tall young guy with a KU t-shirt -- he looked away. He also was leaning away. I actually looked down at his feet to see whether he was shuffling away, too. He really just wanted to leave.

We stood there in that suspended state for a few moments, and then I told him about my project. "It'll just take 10 seconds," I said, as sweetly I could. Finally, he seemed to let the air go out of him. "Oh, OK," he said, and he stepped over toward me. It wasn't much of a prayer. But I believe, for some reason with this guy more than most, that it will make a difference. It wasn't much of a prayer, but God can use anything to reach people. I pray he will use this one.

Day 345: Yay God

He was an older guy with a bald head, driving a car with a Johnson County license plate. So, my first thought was that he was well off. Aren't all people well-to-do in Johnson County? That, of course, isn't true, but that was my knee-jerk generalization.

He said I could pray for him. "Absolutely. As long as I can pray for you, too," he said with enthusiasm. He was a very happy guy. So I said a prayer. Then he put his hands up and said, "God's blessings on you." And then he said, "Yay God." I'd not heard that before. Maybe there was a question on my face, so he explained. "That's just something I like to say," he said. "I had a pastor one time who would say that. It says it all -- that we are putting God first."

Yay God.

Day 344: Close-out sale

Mary and I went shopping at Borders. That company is bankrupt, and it's closing its stores. We found some decent deals. Mary bought a lot of books. Not really wanting to see exactly how many she bought -- she's really a reader -- I went outside to stand in the heat to wait while she paid.

I held the door open for an elderly lady, who went and sat on a bench. It was hot there next to the building, even as the sun was going down. I asked the woman my question, and she quickly said "yes." So I prayed a prayer of blessing, and she thanked me and shook my hand. Then we chatted a few minutes about the weather. She told me her air conditioner was working just fine, thankfully.

Then Mary came out with her bag of books -- a few of mine were in there, too -- and we left.

Day 343: Bugs

It was raining bugs. I was at the gas station filling up Mary's van. It was after dark, and the bugs were flying around all over the place. Mostly what I noticed, though, was where they were landing. On me. Not that it was terrible, but you couldn't stand for very long without getting a visitor -- who then would fly away.

The guy I prayed for was young and tall and freckled. He was driving a green pick-up truck with a large VC logo on the back window. So I'm guessing he was still in high school or close to it. He was wearing a ball cap and had the look of a farm kid. He was smashing bugs on the ground when I asked him my question. He looked at me skeptically. "Why?" So I told him about my project. "Yeah, sure, go ahead," he said as he started to get into his truck. But I stopped him and told him I wanted to pray for him right there. 

He let me, reluctantly -- still looking at me a bit strangely. I thanked him afterward, and he left.

Day 342: Chiefs fan

He was driving a little red SUV -- a Saturn, I think. He didn't really fit the car. It was modern and cool looking. He was kind of scruffy, with a white beard and a Kansas City Chiefs ball cap. I asked him my question, and he just paused and then chuckled at me. "Sure you can," he said, turning away from me. "Sure you can," he said again, as he walked around his car to leave.

So I prayed for him on my own.

Day 341: Tough one

It was another tough night in finding someone to pray for. But I finally came across a guy filling up a white car with gas. I think he was Hispanic, but I'm not sure. I do know his English was rough. The guy himself was rough-looking. He was short and stout, maybe 35 years old. He cleaned all the windows of his car and then popped the hood, to check the oil, I think.

I asked him my question just as he was about to get into his car. He looked at me kind of funny, trying to understand. "Pray," I said, putting my hands together and closing my eyes. The light started to dawn. "To who?" he asked. "To God," I said, and then (to make sure he understood this wasn't just any god), "To Jesus."

He got on board with that and told me I could pray for him right then and there. So I did. During that prayer, the guy bowed his head and quietly mumbled his own prayer in his own language. Then he thanked me, and we shook hands. "God bless you," he said.

So that was that. By the way, Happy Birthday Sam!

Day 340: Courage

God gave me a revelation today. Actually, it was a new twist on an old revelation.

It started when I really struggled tonight to find someone to pray for. I spent a lot of time looking. A lot. But there wasn't a good opportunity. Really, I just lacked courage. But I finally found a guy who was filling up a white car with gas. He had a ball cap and really large, black eyes. He was friendly and let me pray for him, shaking my hand afterward.

The revelation was this: I'm a chicken. I've been doing this for 340 days! Our pastor told me at the beginning of this project that the fear of approaching someone never would go away. I didn't really believe him. Surely, I would get used to it.

To a certain degree, I have. There are times when I just come right out and ask someone -- no worry, no adrenaline, no fear. But other times, I just lack the courage. I hesitate. Tonight was one of those nights. I suppose some Christians are just more outgoing, more naturally wired to do this kind of thing -- to go up to strangers and strike up a conversation about God. That's not me.

So God showed me again tonight that every day of this project, every time I talked to someone, was a result of him giving me the courage to do it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have made it past Day 1. When I needed to open my mouth, to walk up to someone, God supplied the energy. He supplied the words. He overcame the fear -- not me.

Day 339: Monte Carlo

He was driving a black, older model Monte Carlo. He filled up with gas through the back of the car, by the license plate. On a side window was a big No. 3 -- for Dale Earnhardt. The guy himself was in his 40s, probably, with black hair and a mustache.

I asked to pray for him, and he leaned in to hear me better. Then he kind of looked at me strangely and said, with much hesitation, that I could pray for him. So I did. Then he surprised me by striking up a conversation about the weather. It was something like 104 degrees today, and it was poised to stay that way for the foreseeable future. "It's best just to stay inside, or go to a pool and just soak," he said. I agreed.

Day 338: Birthday dinner

It was my birthday, and we were eating at Applebee's. The waitress, named Emma, wasn't particularly happy. She kind of rushed us into ordering, something that's not going to be a very successful effort with four kids sitting at the table. They really had to mull over their options.

So that was the service that night. Curt. Abrupt. Not unfriendly, but not social either. That changed dramatically when I asked her my question. A huge smile came across her face. Absolutely, I could pray for her, she said. So I did. "Can you keep praying for me tonight? I need more of that," she said. I told her we would.

Day 337: Air conditioning

I went to the gas station on my way home from work, but before I stepped out, I just sat there and let the cool air blow through the vents in the car. It's been ridiculously hot. But there was a guy standing next to a white SUV filling up with gas, and I needed to finish my project for the day. I only have four weeks left!

He was probably in his 50s and was balding. His vehicle had the name of his company, some kind of equipment distributor I think, on the side. The guy looked at me like I was a little nuts -- like it was a silly thing to ask. But he said, really hesitatingly and without looking a me while he pulled his receipt from the gas pump, that I could pray for him. So I did. It was a short prayer. Perhaps pleased by that, he stuck out his hand and shook mine. He thanked me.

Day 336: Cherry limeade

I was in a big hurry. I'm doing some graduate school work and had a research paper due by midnight. I hadn't prayed for anyone yet, and it was 9:30 p.m. The paper was in decent shape -- not perfect -- so I left the house to go look for someone. I found myself at Sonic. Quick and easy, and a good chance at least to get a response from someone.

The girl who brought out the cherry limeade -- I mistakenly thought that was Mary's favorite drink -- was young, probably no older than 20. She smiled when I asked my question, almost like she was expecting it. Maybe she gets all sorts of comments from her customers. Anyway, she let me pray for her. So I did. She thanked me, and then she fulfilled her obligation with a smile, asking whether I needed anything else to go along with my drink. I didn't.

When I got home, I gave Mary the limeade and finished the paper.

Day 335: Pro-life

He was a young guy, standing next to a little white car, at the Park City QuikTrip. He immediately said I could pray for him. Then he asked about my project. He said it was fitting that we should meet like that because he'd had a strange night. He was supposed to hang out with a girl that night, but it didn't work out. So he found himself walking alone and praying. That turned out to be a good thing. And then I showed up.

The guy's name was John. And as it turns out, he's in ministry with a pro-life group in Wichita. We talked for quite a while about his organization -- Justice for All -- and how it operates. Basically, he says, it trains pro-lifers "how not to be weird" as they spread the word about their cause. I agree fully in the cause and was glad to hear about what they were doing.

John, himself, was a really engaging guy -- one of those who probably rarely holds things back. And he's a thinker. We talked about how he once witnessed to an atheist college professor who eventually became a Christian and how he's working on some other things in his life. I'm just glad to have met him. And I'll keep praying for him.

After 11 months ...

It is shocking to think it's been 11 months. It's all God. There's no way I could have done this on my own. It was his idea. His courage. His words. I am just lucky enough to be part of it.

I've been thinking about how best to sum up what this has been about. What's the big-picture lesson? Is it evangelism? Obedience? Discipline? Sacrifice? It's been all of those certainly. But that's not what this has been about at its very core. To me, it's been about God. Just God. We're to glorify Him in everything we do. As I see what he's done during this project -- all those people who I've been blessed to talk to, whether positive or negative -- I see his power and his guidance. And I can't help but praise him. He's the center. It all points to him and who he is -- loving, forgiving, all-powerful, creating, renewing.

I shouldn't try to write a sermon here. But the closer I get to the end of this project, the more amazed I am at God. He's awesome, and he makes dead things -- and tired things -- new.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

Day 334: Gatorade, grapes

That's what I picked up at the store. It was like 110 degrees today, and Sophia had her swim meet in McPherson. She pretty much fainted at one point -- we think from heat -- and then threw up. The meet continues tomorrow, so when we got back home and finished VBS for the week (we aren't busy!), I went to the store to buy some stuff to keep her hydrated.

I stopped the guy in the soup aisle of Walmart to ask him my question. He was a big guy named Brian who was stocking shelves. It was late, about 10:30 p.m. He didn't hesitate much in saying I could pray for him. And contrary to other stockers at Walmart, he had time to let me pray for him. So I did. He didn't have much to say after that, so I thanked him and left.

Day 333: Don't need one

The first thing I noticed about his pickup was that it had seen better days. It was well used. A strip of duct tape was holding on one of the tail lights. In the back was a bunch of old equipment, but I couldn't tell what it was for.

The guy driving this beat up truck was in his late 40s or early 50s with a mustache and glasses. He squinted at me when I asked him my question, but he didn't fully turn to face me. That's usually a sign. He took one moment to think about it and then he said, "I don't need a prayer." He laughed at that moment through broken teeth. "Don't need one," he said again. And then he hopped into his truck and drove off.

I got back into my car and waited until he was out of sight. Then I prayed for him.

Day 332: Go ahead

It was a short exchange. He didn't want anything to do with me. The guy was probably in his 60s, driving a Honda SUV with Oklahoma plates. I asked him my question after he finished washing his windows. He just looked at me blankly and asked, "Why?" I told him about my project. This didn't satisfy him apparently, but he wanted to get rid of me. "Go ahead," he said, waving his hand at me with a straight face. He was moving away then. "Go ahead," he said again. And then he was gone, walking toward the QuikTrip. He looked back once, but I wasn't sure he was looking at me or his car.

Day 331: A lot of ice cream

He brought us our food at Sonic, and we jokingly gave him a hard time about just how much ice cream he brought us. Those were large cups for such little kids. But, we were the ones who decided to take them for ice cream at 10 o'clock at night. Sophia had just gotten done with her swim meet and we wanted to reward her.

Anyway, the carhop's name was Leo. I bet he still was in high school. He was very friendly. I asked him my question, and he gave me a questioning look. But he said "yes." "Give me a prayer," he said. Leo removed his ballcap, and I prayed for him. Then he thanked me and got back to work.

Day 330: My ministry

He was in his 40s with dark hair and a serious look on his face. He was a sharp guy who sized me up almost immediately -- and pretty accurately. I asked if I could pray for him and he looked at me questioningly. "Why?" I told him that I try to pray for one person every day.

"Well, I'm a believer," he said. "If you're after a conversion, you're not going to get it." I told him that wasn't necessarily what I was after. I just wanted to pray for him. He thought about this for only a moment. "Well," he said, "I see that's you ministry, so go ahead." So I prayed a prayer of blessing for the man.

Then we shook hands. "Thanks for your courage," he said, adding that he would remember me that night in his own prayers. And like that, he was gone.

Day 329: John Smith

He was perhaps the most engaging and interested person I've met during this project. We were at the QuikTrip in Park City. He was driving a maroon Buick, or something like that, and I asked if I could pray for him. "Certainly," he said. The guy was probably in his 50s, with a shock of white hair. I asked if he had 10 seconds for a quick prayer right then. That's when he surprised me: "That's a short prayer," he said.

I agreed, so I asked whether he had anything specific I could pray about for him. He thought about it for a moment and then said his Achilles had been bothering him. I'd seen him limping out of the convenience store earlier. He'd injured it playing tennis and it was visibly swollen. He wasn't sure what kind of treatment it would need. So we prayed about it.

Then we chatted for a few minutes. "I've never in all my life had anyone pray for me at a filling station before," he said. He told me about his church, a Pentecostal church down south. He said it offered some programs that he really liked. He asked about my project and why I decided to do it. I told him about the calling I'd received and the constant prompting of the Holy Spirit. "I think good things are going to happen to you on this project," he said. And then he asked me how long I'd been doing it -- "How many days?"

I told him 330 (I miscounted, obviously). (And I about choked those words out. It's so amazing to me how far God has brought me in this project.) He seemed surprised I'd been at it so long: "I bet some really incredible things have happened during that time." I agreed that they had. At the very least, I told him, God had moved me. He'd taught me what it means to be obedient and disciplined in serving him in a self-sacrificing way.

We parted then. But John Smith said that he believes all things happen for a reason, that our meeting had a purpose. Again, I couldn't agree more.

Day 328: The bread aisle

It was Saturday evening. I picked up two loaves of white and two loaves of wheat at Walmart. There was a guy standing there with a cart half full of groceries. He was mulling over whether to pick something off the shelf. I'm not sure what it was. The guy himself was maybe 60 years old, with short whitish hair.

As I was pushing my own cart out of the aisle, I stopped and asked him my question. He paused, and then said, "I don't care if you do." He said in a pleasant way, sort of. But there was a guy coming up the aisle, looking right at him, in one of those little scooters. So I figured they were together.

I didn't want to make him uncomfortable, so I just said I would pray for him once I left the store. He said he would appreciate that. So I thanked him and left.

Day 327: A blessed day

He was a tall young guy, probably in his 20s, driving a red Vibe. He had a beard and a hint of a mustache. He looked like he'd just gotten off work. I stopped to ask him my question after he came back to his car from QuikTrip. He didn't think about it long before giving me a yes. So I prayed. Then he shook my hand. "Have a great day," he said, and then, "Have a blessed day."

Day 326: Janice the greeter

She looked tired, both physically and mentally, standing there at the end of her shift at Walmart. I walked out and asked whether I could pray for her. She was a short woman and she leaned toward me to hear what I had to say. "Well certainly," she said. But she wasn't comfortable with me praying for her right there. She looked around kind of restlessly, looking for her replacement, who would be coming along any time. But she said I could pray for her after I left. And so I did.

Day 325: A prayer for a prayer

He was a tall guy with a beard, getting gas at the Park City QuikTrip. I asked to pray for him and he gave me a little smile. I explained my project and he still smiled. I could tell right away that he was a friendly guy.

"You sure can," he said. But he couldn't stop for a prayer just then. "I tell you what," he said, holding out his hand to shake mine. "My name's Ken, and you can pray for me as I'm out on the highway." Then he asked my name. "I'll say a prayer for you, too," he said. And then he was gone.

Day 324: UPS

He was the delivery guy, dressed as only he could be on a day where temperatures topped 100 degrees: brown shirt, brown shorts, brown socks. He must have just gotten off work, because I saw him standing next to a little car, which was cluttered on the inside.

The guy himself was probably close to 50 years old, with dark hair and a mustache. I asked to pray for him and got the dull, questioning stare. I told him about my project. "Well, sure," the guy said, standing with one foot in his car, ready to bolt at any moment. It wasn't an enthusiastic response, but he did let me bow and pray. So I did. Then he was gone.

Day 323: Not a happy holiday

That's the best way to describe her. She wasn't in a good mood, working at Walmart on the Fourth of July. "I don't want to be here today," she said as I asked how her day was going. Isabella and I were checking out then with some flour, ground beef and chocolate chips -- last-minute items for the 4th.

The cashier didn't smile at us or greet Isabella as she plopped the chocolate chips on the counter. I said that I hoped the woman's shift wouldn't be a long one today. She said that also was a problem. She got off at 2:30 p.m. So not only did she have to work July 4, she also didn't get to work that many hours. I took it that she figured that if she had to come in on a holiday, she wanted to work some real hours to make it worthwhile.

I never saw her smile. I also, at that moment, didn't say anything to her. There were a bunch of people in line by that point and the cashier's supervisor came over then, so I just took our bags and walked off with Isabella. But we didn't leave. After Isabella was buckled into her car seat and we were sitting there in the parking lot, we waited for a long five minutes while I just thought about that woman. It would be wrong to leave without saying something to someone who was having such an obvious bad day.

So I dreamed up something else to go purchase -- pop. We don't drink pop normally, but our rule is that the kids can have all they want on the Fourth of July. It's one perk of our freedom, if only for a day.

So Isabella and I went in, got some pop and got in the same line we were in before. The cashier's mood was worse than before, if anything. A guy in overalls was standing right next to me waiting his turn. But I had to say something. "Ma'am. I would like to pray for you today." She said that would be fine. "I'm really tired," she said. So I told her I would pray for her and wished her a good day. I didn't pray for her right then. There wasn't time, and it wouldn't have been appropriate.

When we got back to the van, Isabella and I did pray for her, asking God to give the woman more hours to work and more happiness in working them. Hopefully, God also will make himself known to her in some way today.

Day 322: Stretching

He was standing alone next to a minivan, filling it with gas at a Park City gas station. It was pretty late. No one else was at that station, besides me, and the convenience store itself was closed. I walked over to him and asked him my question.

He said I could pray for him. He was a stout guy, probably in his late 20s. I prayed for him, and then he asked what compelled me to do such a thing. So I told him about my project. He said he was a Christian and that he believed Jesus Christ died for his sins. He asked then how I came up with the idea for my project. I told him it really was something God set out for me to do. "To stretch you," he said then. That was exactly right. I told him that too often we Christians are afraid to say anything at all -- to anyone.

He asked what church I went to. He attends Faith Bible Baptist Church, also in Valley Center. In the end, we shook hands and went our own ways.

Day 321: 'Don't bother me'

He was a big guy with a bushy beard, and he just stared at me when I walked up to him. He had been filling his SUV with gas at the Kwik Shop in Maize when I asked him my question. He just gave me the normal pause, and then "No." He stepped back away from me and then stuck out his hand, again saying "No." Then he said, "Don't bother me," and he walked back around his vehicle.

I just turned and went to my car. The guy didn't want to be bothered, so I would honor that. My reaction to episodes like that one are almost always the same. On one hand, I'm annoyed that someone would be so rude and assume so much about me. That's my natural side. On the other, I just feel compelled to pray for the guy. I'm never sure exactly what I should pray, but just to ask God to be present for that man. That's the side of me that's not natural. It's the side that has absolutely nothing to do with me. And it's the side I want more of -- the side I want to feel first in cases like this one.

Day 320: Shopping carts

He was fumbling in the Walmart parking lot with a long line of shopping carts. It was his job to get them back into the store using one of those electric-powered buggies that pushes them along. He appeared to me to be struggling with it, however. When I saw him, I was walking out of the store with a few items to tide us over for the weekend. We'd just gotten back from Colorado about an hour earlier. (It's really hot here!)

At the sight of the cart pusher, I did all I could do: I took him my own shopping cart. That's kind of mean, I realize, but it gave me a chance to offer him a prayer. "Pray for me?" he said, smiling curiously. I told him about my project. The guy was probably no more than 20 years old. But he agreed to let me pray for him. "I could probably use all the prayers I can get," he said. So I bowed my head and prayed right then. The guy giggled, a little nervously, at that moment. But the prayer was over in a few seconds, and I shook his hand and thanked him. He went back to his cart work.  

Day 319: The coach

I can't say for sure that he was a coach. But he looked like one. He was wearing a windbreaker with the logo of the Buena Vista school on it. (They're the Demons, by the way). And he was a really big guy, with that black jacket, standing next to a big black truck. I figured him for a football coach. Or maybe baseball.

He was quick to give me a "yes" when I asked my question. "Let's do it," he said. So I bowed my head and prayed for him. We shook hands then. It was a nice response.

Day 318: A Messianic Jew

He was driving a very old, very beat up Honda. It was full of junk. There’s not much other way to describe it. I can’t say for sure the guy was living out of the car – he didn’t look like it – but there was enough stuff in there to live off of. The guy himself had gray hair and a beard, along with a wide-brimmed hat. He was wearing a collared shirt and shorts.

When I walked up to him, he turned around quickly and greeted me with a loud voice. I asked to pray for him and got the usual hesitation. I told him about my project and that it wasn’t for any reason that I wanted to pray for him in particular. (In other words, I wasn’t judging the car.)

He said I could pray for him, but then stopped me. "Who are we praying to?" he asked. I told him Jesus (which is what I tell people to make sure they’re clear that this would be a Christian prayer). This is where he got a little aggressive. "How about we pray to his Father?" I told him that would be great.

Then he stuck out his hand, I took it, and he prayed for me. It was a very Jewish-sounding prayer. After he finished, I prayed for him in Jesus’ name. I asked him then whether he was a Christian. He fumbled for a minute and then said he was a Messianic Jew. "I believe Yeshua is coming back. But not in a wimpy way. He’s coming in a big way," he said.

Day 317: From Utah

All I could discern was that they appeared to be from Utah (based on their license plate). And they were traveling with kids. The guy was filling up with gas in Buena Vista while his wife was cleaning the trash out of their Yukon Denali, washing its windows and dealing with the children in the back. So she was clearly more active than he was.

Before we pulled out of the gas station, I asked whether I could pray for him. He kind of chuckled uncomfortably. "Sure," he said. But he said I couldn’t pray for him right then. "We’re kind of in a hurry," he said. That was OK. I told him I would pray for him later. They pulled out of the gas station just after we did.

Day 316: Horses

We've got an annual tradition going horseback riding in Colorado during the summer. It's one of those activities that our three girls get very excited about. And Sam, after a few pre-ride jitters, did fine, too.

Our guide's name was Michael. He was in his early 20s from Lake George, Colorado, where he said his parents own a ranch. During the summer, the cattle are put out to summer pasture, and there's not much to do around the ranch. So his mom sent him to work at the M Lazy C ranch (where she knew the owners) for him to work as a trail guide. That was five summers ago. "I get paid to ride a horse, so that's a pretty good deal," he remarked. He was a good guide, very friendly, and he tried to get the kids to warm up to him.

After our ride, I tipped him and offered to pray for him. The tip kind of made him a captive audience, I realize. But he hesitatingly said yes. So I prayed a prayer of blessing in whatever he ended up doing with his life. He thanked me, and we left -- all of us saddle-sore.

Day 315: Running

He was a long skinny guy, probably in his 60s, standing next to a Honda minivan. It was a good opportunity. I stopped to get gas next to him. I asked him if I could pray for him. I had noticed a cross hanging from his rear-view mirror, so I figured he might say yes. I wasn’t looking for a yes, but it’s nice to know what to expect.

He told me I could pray for him -- "And I’ll pray for you, too," he said. But he was distracted. He immediately went back to trying to figure out the credit card reader, which was confusing him. I asked if I could help, and he let me. It took us a few minutes of both of us staring at it before the light dawned and a really simple problem was fixed. Then I asked again if I could pray for him, telling him about my project. He said I could, so I did. His head stayed bowed for a moment after I finished praying, his hands clasped in front of him. Then he looked up and thanked me.

Turns out, he was a talkative guy. We stood there talking about running. As it turns out, he had just retired the previous Friday from his job as a PE teacher in Illinois. Now he was in Colorado helping with the road races in Leadville. We talked about the super-endurance races – more than 20 miles per day – and about the 100-mile race coming up in August. This guy was extreme. He'd run more than 20 miles each of the past two days.

But he was kind. About his job, he noted that he’d made a million dollars during his career and he’d spent a million dollars. He’s single with no kids. He pointed to the minivan – "That’s all I came away with," he said. But, he said smiling, he felt like he'd never worked a day in his life and he’d touched a lot of lives.

Day 314: Tire gauge

We woke up this morning to a very flat tire. I’d had my eye on it during our trip out to Colorado and had almost convinced myself that it wasn’t losing pressure. I didn’t have a tire pressure gauge to check, however. It turns out that I was wrong, and it was flat.

The good thing was we found a place open on Saturday in Buena Vista to fix it. (We’re getting pretty good at solving car issues in Colorado, by the way.) Next door to the mechanic was a NAPA Auto Parts store. So after I put our repaired tire back on the van, I went in there and bought a tire gauge.

The store was deadly silent. Even the lights seemed like they were out. But the store was open. The guy behind the counter was round and friendly. I noted the emptiness of the store, and he said he was glad it wasn’t busy. Only he and another guy were working that day. He showed me the tire gauges, and I bought one. It cost $7.51.

When I asked to pray for him, he hesitated. But he did say "yes." Maybe he felt obligated because I was his only customer. But I got a prayer in for him, and I shook his hand. "Nice to meet you," he said.

Day 313: Colorado grunge

That’s the best way to describe him, and I don’t mean that in a negative way. We had pulled into Buena Vista, Colorado, just a few hours earlier for our vacation. It’s a mountain town. The people who come here want to hike and fish and camp and raft. They want to be outdoors.

And the people who live here, at least from what I’ve been able to tell, are the same way. They’re mostly bronze and fit and look like they just got off the water or down from the mountain. The guy I ran into at the gas station was about 40 years old. He was thin, had a funky beard and had blond dreadlocks streaming out the back of his ball cap. There was a kid, maybe 12 years old with a shaggy head of hair, in the passenger’s seat of his little blue Nissan pickup.

I was curious what the guy would say. So I asked him my question. He looked at me kind of funny, and so I told him about my project. A little smirk crossed his face, then he said, "Go for it," sticking out his hand in my direction – fending me off. Then he turned and walked away. I just thanked him as he went.

He didn’t want anything to do with me, I realize. That’s OK. I prayed for him. Maybe God will reveal himself to him in the mountains or on the river.

Day 312: The firefighter

I can only assume he was a firefighter. He had one of those firefighter license plates. He was a young guy, stout, with a mustache. For me, he just seemed to fit the profile of a firefighter. I asked to pray for him and he hesitated only a moment before telling me I could. This was at the QuikTrip in Park City. He had been filling up a little pickup truck. I prayed a quick prayer, and then he shook my hand and thanked me.

Day 311: The Camaro

It was sleek and dark blue. The driver was an older guy, very tall, wearing jeans and flip-flops. You could tell he was a laid-back guy. I figured him for a retired businessman, just enjoying life. He stepped over and let me pray for him. "Thanks, man," he said afterward as we shook hands.

After 10 months ...

I've been looking forward to this point since I started this project. First, my goal was to get to one month. And then it was one quarter. And then it was 100 days. And then it was half a year. But all along, I was looking forward just to getting past Day 300. It would all be downhill from there. Just 65 short days left and the project would be over. By Day 300, I figured, I would be so accustomed to this project that it would all be easy. And with the end in sight, the momentum and excitement would just build.

So here I am, 10 days into this "final stretch," and I'm finding it to be not quite what I expected. Actually, it's just the same as it's always been -- kind of a grind. But I am excited. This project has been great, and just thinking that God has carried me through 310 days still is mind-boggling.

I'll also say this, it certainly hasn't seemed like 10 months have gone by. It's been a quick year.

For the record, the final day is August 15.

Day 310: Lead foot

He was driving a little red car -- probably gets good gas mileage -- so the "LEADFT2" license tag seemed a little out of place. He was filling up at QuikTrip and was washing his windows when I pulled up to get gas. This was nearly 11 p.m., after Sophia and I got back from her swim meet in McPherson.

The guy was short and a little round, probably in his 50s. I got his attention and he looked at me, one hand still grasping the squeegie. He had a towel in his other hand. I asked him my question. He looked right in my eyes then, "Why?" His tone was slightly accusatory, probably wondering what I was up to. I still very much remember the stern questioning in his eyes.

So I told him about my project. He listened. Then he went back to wiping his windows with the towel. "Well, that's good," he said. But I don't think he thought it was good -- I think he thought it was annoying. So I just did all I could. I asked him if he had 10 seconds so I could pray for him right there. Nothing doing. "I'm in a hurry," he said.

Well, by this time, I was already done filling up with gas, and I didn't need to watch him wash his windows. So I thanked him and left. He was still there when I pulled out of the parking lot.

Day 309: Praying alone

He was a young guy -- really young when I think back on it. I bet he just got out of high school. He probably wasn't much older than that. I saw him cleaning the windows of his car as I was filling up Mary's van after swim practice. This was at the Valley Center Kwik Shop.

Just before the guy got back into his car, I stopped him to ask him my question. He paused and looked at me with his own questioning look. When I told him I wanted to pray for him, a smile of annoyance crossed his face and he shook his head. "I'm good," he said. "I pray for myself." Then he started to get into his car. I quickly thanked him and said I would say my own prayer for him. He still had that annoyed -- and somewhat condescending -- look on his face. Then he was gone.

That's not the first time I've gotten that kind of response, the one where someone makes clear to me that prayer is a private matter and not something he's going to let just anyone butt in on in his life. I wouldn't want to argue with that. For all he knows, I'm a complete kook. I just pray that the people who have offered that response do have alone time with God, that they do pray for themselves and others and that they respond when God calls them in their faith to butt in a little on others.

Day 308: Randy the greeter

Walmart greeters are easy targets. They're standing there with not much to do except say "hi." So I prayed for a greeter today named Randy. He was a gentleman about 60 years old, looking at me through his big glasses. He was slightly more enthusiastic about his job than some greeters. He made sure everyone got a greeting.

When I asked to pray for him, he didn't hesitate in saying yes. So I prayed for him right there. He shook my hand. "That's a very nice thing to do," he said.

Day 307: The witch

I don't think I'd ever met a Wiccan before. She was working at Papa Murphy's pizza in Newton. She made two family-sized pizzas for us. So I don't think I'd ever eaten a pizza made by a witch before either. (And according to Wikipedia -- and who doesn't trust that? -- Wiccans really do call themselves witches.)

Anyway, after she handed me the pizzas, I asked her my question. She paused, leaned back a little and said, "Why?" There was a bit of suspicion in her face. So I told her about my project, and she hesitated a little more and then said, "Sure." Then she kind of waved me away. But I stood there and told her I wanted to pray for her right then. Her eyes kind of widened a little, and she really didn't know what to say. So I told her it would just take a few seconds, and I prayed for her in Jesus' name.

While I was praying, one of her co-workers came out of the back room and, apparently surprised by this, just stood there and listened. After the "amen," I told him that the prayer applied to him, too. Then I thanked them and headed for the door. "By the way," she said then, "I'm a Wiccan."

Well, that kind of stops you. I thought about that for a second and the only thing that popped into my head -- with some urgency -- was to confess Jesus. Say his name. "Jesus died to save everyone. He can save everyone," I said then.

She started moving back along the counter then, turning her attention somewhat away from me. "Oh well, I guess it's all the same God," she said. Now that's a false statement. Wiccans don't worship Jesus. But I resolved very early in this project that I would be met, likely, with all sorts of responses and beliefs as I sought to spread God's Word. And I resolved never to be confrontational. In our world, hate and bitterness are in plenty, but Christian love and charity often aren't.

So I just shook my head at her comment. I smiled at her. And I wished her a good evening. It felt unsatisfactory. I wanted to argue. But I had professed my faith. I had professed Jesus. And I trust that the Holy Spirit will work on her heart and provide others to do the same.

Day 306: 'Awfully busy'

He was filling a green truck up with gas. He was about 60 years old with a mustache and sunglasses. The sun was right in my face when I asked him my question. I got that feeling you get when someone really doesn't want to talk to you. He kind of grunted when I first got his attention, and then gave me the long pause afterward.

Then he smiled a little and said, "yes." I asked if he had 10 seconds for a quick prayer right then. He answered, smiling more broadly now, "I'm awfully busy." At that, I chided him just a little -- "Not even 10 seconds?" He nodded then and let me pray for him, which I did.

Day 305: Sunglasses

He was standing next to a Honda SUV, filling up with gas. He was leaning very coolly against it, waiting patiently. He was maybe 50 years old, wearing a polo shirt and shorts. I figured him as well-to-do and that maybe he'd been golfing that day.

I asked him my question, and he leaned in to hear it. I couldn't see his eyes through his black sunglasses. There was the long pause. I explained my project. Another pause. And then he said I could pray for him. So I did. He thanked me. I shook his hand and left.

Day 304: Mumbling

He was a bulky guy with a sleeveless shirt and a little beard. He was tough-looking. He also mumbled. When I asked him my question, he mumbled a response. So I asked again, and I'm not sure what he said then.

So I explained my project -- that I like to pray for one person every day -- and he said something like, "Well, I'll give it a try." Now, I'm not opposed to someone praying for me. But I'm pretty sure that's not what he meant. I'm not really sure what he meant. So I just told him I'd pray for him, and I did. It was a short prayer asking for God's blessing.

The guy was looking at me when I lifted my head. Then he just nodded. I'm still not sure what he got out of it. He was just standing there, still filling up his little white car with gas when I drove off.

Day 303: Large milkshake

Sophia had another swim meet tonight -- she did awesome again -- and we stopped by Sonic for ice cream. It was a reward for Sophia for her hard work and for the other three kids for not falling into the pool accidentally (or something like that).

The carhop was nice. After I paid, I asked her my question. I got the normal confused look, and then I explained my project. She was on board with it then. So I prayed for her, that all would go well as she finished out her evening. She thanked me, with a big smile -- "You just made my night!"

Day 302: EZ Go, Oklahoma

That's where I stopped -- an EZ Go convenience store near Muskogee, Okla. I was kind of irritated by then. I'd been on a toll road where every 20 miles or so they asked for a $1.50. So I'd run out of cash. To keep going, I had to get some more. I thought the toll was too high, considering the quality of the highway!

Anyway, I needed gas, too. It's funny how God can change your attitude. I walked over to a guy filling up with gas next to me and asked him my question. He was standing next to a little car with Texas plates. He looked like a businessman. His white dress shirt was wrinkled up in the back where he'd been sitting in his car. He was probably in his 30s.

He looked at me with a little grin and thought it over, and finally said that yes, I could pray for him. So I said a quick prayer of blessing on him during his travels. He thanked me, and I walked into the convenience store looking for a bathroom -- and an ATM machine. I wasn't mad any more.

Day 301: Little Rock

I found myself in Little Rock, Arkansas, standing outside the Holiday Inn Presidential. They still were basking in the glow of President Clinton. Pictures of presidents lined one hallway. The hotel restaurant was called "Camp David," and I ordered a Clinton Club for dinner.

 

Outside the hotel, where I'd gone to lock up my car, I saw the hotel's shuttle van dropping off a group of pilots and flight attendants from the airport. I stopped the driver, after he'd gotten back into the van, and he rolled down his window. He had been counting his tip money, so he was smiling when he spoke to me.

 

I asked him my question and he barely hesitated, "Absolutely." But he said he was in too much of a hurry to be prayed for then, so I told him that I would pray for him later.

Day 300: The lineman

He looked like a regular guy, maybe 45 years old, waiting for his car to fill up with gas. He was driving a Saab. He had a goatee and was wearing a Boise State t-shirt. I asked if I could ask him a question. He stepped right over to me, maybe thinking I was having trouble with the key pad on my side of the gas pump. 

But I asked whether I could pray for him. He said yes almost immediately. He was a friendly guy. "I think people should pray for each other as often as they can," he said. "Do your thing brother." So I prayed for him and his safety, asking God to bless him. And he prayed the same for me.

We talked for a few moments then about what we were up to that night. He said he had just watched a movie with his wife -- "X-Men" -- and they were on their way home. (She was in the passenger's seat.)  

He asked me then what I did for a living and where I worked. I asked him the same thing. He was a lineman for Westar Energy. It was a good job, he said, one that he'd had for 33 years. I must have given him a look then. "I'm older than I look," he said. So I was forced to ratchet up his estimated age by at least five years.

Anyway, it was a good talk -- especially for Day 300. And then he and his wife drove off. 

Day 299: Enchilada

We had a date night and were eating at On The Border on the west side of Wichita. It wasn't very busy, and the service was really quick. We had our food within about five minutes of being there. And, without kids, we were done within about 20 minutes of walking in the door.

The waiter was a young guy who didn't really have enough to do. He wandered by us several times just checking to make sure we had everything we needed. After I'd paid our check, I asked him my question. He said I could pray for him, so I did.

He thanked me then and then stopped to chat with us for a little bit. He said he'd only been working there since March. He's from Topeka, where he found himself getting into trouble. This was a good change for him to be in Wichita.

The fact of the matter was that he opened up to us. It was like once he knew we were Christians, it was safe to talk about stuff. He didn't give us a whole lot of information, but he did assure us that his life was much improved from where it had been. Hopefully, it will get even better.

Day 298: Taekwondo, a twister, and 10 years

He was a short, skinny guy standing next to a small pickup truck. I asked if I could pray for him. He was probably in his 40s. A kid was sitting in the passenger's seat. The guy hesitated, and then, boldly, "Sure!" So he let me pray for him, and I did, asking for God to protect him.

"Which way you going?" he said suddenly. That took a bit by surprise. I wasn't sure how to answer. North or south? Heaven or hell? I finally told him north. "Well, I'll pray for you that you'll be safe in the storm that will be coming in that way."

The guy told me he and his son were headed to Newton for a Taekwondo competition. He pointed to a sticker on the back side of his truck that said "Ultimate Martial Arts: Team Singleton." He told me he was the coach for his boys, although the older son had given it up. Still, he smiled when I said it was a good father-and-son thing.

I was thankful later for the prayer that I assume he prayed for us. A funnel cloud -- or something like it -- swirled just west of our town for a half-hour tonight. It certainly got our attention and got us to the basement. But we missed the worst of the storm -- just some small hail, a lot of rain and wind.

And by the way, today was our 10-year wedding anniversary. Not exactly the ideal way to spend it as we packed everybody into the basement. But we got to see our kids smile, and I got to see Mary smile. It was a good day. And it's been a great decade.

Day 297: Longhorns

He was sitting on a bench in Old Town, a big young guy with a Texas Longhorns hat on his head. He looked up at me when I stopped to ask him my question. He had a look of humor and skepticism. He wasn't on board with the idea.

At first, he let out a reluctant, "whatever you want." And then he said, "Do I have to take part?" Well, I explained, he didn't have to if he didn't want to. I just wanted to pray for him. He gave me another really reluctant, "whatever you want." At that point, I told him I would pray for him as I walked away, because I didn't want to make him uncomfortable. "I'll just pray for the guy in the Longhorns hat," I said. And I did.

Day 296: Turnpike II

She was the second Turnpike worker I've prayed for. We'd been down to Winfield for Sophia's first swim meet (she did awesome, by the way), and it was getting close to 11 p.m. as we pulled into the South Wichita interchange. Mary was with me, and two girls -- Sophia and Isabella -- were asleep in the back.

A short woman was in the booth. I gave her a dollar for the toll and then asked her my question. She looked surprised, like most people do, and then she looked down behind me to make sure there was no one waiting. It was all clear. There was time. So I said a quick prayer for her, asking God to keep her safe. She thanked me, and then we were back on our way.

Day 295: Monster

He was wearing a shirt with the logo of Monster Energy Drink on the front. The way it was designed made it look like a race jersey of some kind, like for motorcycles or bikes. But the guy wearing it didn't look like a racer. He was average height and a little heavy-set. He was wearing a ball cap.

I saw him as he was walking in Old Town, going north on Mead Street, and I stopped to ask him my question. He immediately said yes. "Absolutely," he said, "that's great." No hesitation at all. And he had a real engaging way about him. So I prayed for him, and he thanked me.

Day 294: Silver Mustang

It was a really nice car. Clean and sleek. The guy driving it was probably in his 20s -- a skinny guy wearing baggy shorts, a t-shirt, a flat-brimmed ball cap and sunglasses. He'd been into the QuikShop and came out with a box of doughnuts and a drink. This was in the evening. For some reason, he didn't fit the car.

When I asked to pray for him, he just squinted at me into the sun, but he didn't say anything. I finally told him about my project. There was another long pause. Hesitatingly, he said "yes." I prayed a prayer of protection and blessing for him. He thanked me. I told him I liked his car.

Day 293: No and yes

She didn't want anything to do with me. Her face said it all. She was a heavy-set, 40-year-old-or-so woman driving a little SUV, painted bright yellow. She looked at me through her glasses, her facing kind of scrunching up when I asked my question. Then, simply, "No thank you." She turned her back, got in her car and left.

I was at QuikTrip, still filling up with gas. That's when I got sidetracked with a text message from my brother showing a picture of a mountain lake he'd hiked to that day. (He lives in Colorado and was just rubbing it in.) So while I was offering up a response, another little SUV drove up to the gas pump next to mine.

There was a passenger in the front seat, appearing to be asleep. And a woman got out of the driver's seat and began filling up with gas. She was probably in her 50s. I just took it as an extra opportunity and asked her my question as well. She barely hesitated, "Sure." So I prayed for her, particularly for her safety. Then she told me she was headed for Salina that night. She thanked me for the prayer.

Day 292: Pool guy

He was leaning against a yellow van -- with "Thurman Pools" written across the back of it -- filling up with gas. The guy was probably in his 20s, skinny with a beard and shaved head. He looked at me curiously when I asked my question. It was one of those looks like you give someone who has a very strange idea.

I just told him about my project and reiterated that I wanted to pray for him. Finally, "Go ahead," he said. So I prayed for him. He thought it was kind of funny, and probably a little ridiculous. That's OK. He thanked me as I left.

Day 291: No time

He was standing next to a red Grand Am, filling it with gas. I was standing on the other side of the pump, filling my Honda Civic. I looked over to him and caught his attention. His shirt said "Triumph," which I took to signify one of the aerospace companies in town. The guy, himself, was probably in his 50s.

I asked him my question. "You can if you want to," he responded. I noticed his teeth for some reason. They weren't straight. Mine aren't either. Then I asked if he had 10 seconds for a prayer right then. He kind of waved me off. "No. No. I don't really have time right now." OK, I told him. But he stuck out his hand then, thanking me anyway, and I shook it.

Then I went back to filling up my car with gas. And he did, too. We stood there for a few moments in silence, and then he walked into the convenience store. When I left, I noticed a small cross hung from his rear-view mirror. I was thankful for that.

Day 290: 'If you want'

It was a lackadaisical answer. "If you want," he said. It also came after much silent pondering, while I stood there waiting. Of course, what would you expect at the kind of question I was asking?

The guy I'd found was in his 50s with a mustache and glasses and driving a white Ford Ranger with a topper. He really did pause in answering me. A slight smile crept across his face. And then, finally, "If you want." I did want to, so I prayed for him.

He thanked me after I finished.

After nine months ...

I've been thinking a lot recently about what it means to witness. We like to say that we witness by our actions, that it doesn't take much to show people about the love of Christ. We set an example. We show unconditional love. But we always stay ready. "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect ... " (1 Peter 3:15).

I believe that. But I also believe that sometimes we kind of have to nudge people along. We don't have to be in their face about it. No, that's not the way to do it. There just has be a clear understanding for why we are doing what we're doing. In that scripture from 1 Peter, the message is to those who are being persecuted and those who are suffering for their faith in Christ. So sometimes, we need to suffer, too. We need to step out in such a way that it's clear the action we're taking doesn't benefit us in any way.  When people see it, they'll be prompted to ask why. That's the opening, Peter says. That's where we step in with the reason for the hope that we have.

Another point of that scripture is that once Jesus was made alive by the Spirit after his death, he went and witnessed to the "imprisoned spirits." So he got new life and "made proclamation" to those who were dead. We get that chance, too. We can follow Jesus' example by taking our new life and then ministering (witnessing) to those who still are dead in their sins.

Day 289: 'Sorry'

She wasn't very impressed with me. She just kind of looked like me like I was nuts. Sophia and I were at Sonic, and the car hop was a girl who probably was in her teens still -- certainly no more than 20. But she was no-nonsense. When she brought Sophia's orange slush out and the cup was leaking, she turned right around and got her another one. She was back in less than a minute.

So I asked her my question, and she just looked at me. She didn't answer. So I explained a little bit about my project. And still she just stared at me, apparently dumbfounded. And then, simply -- "Sorry" -- and she turned her back to me and walked away. That was it. So Sophia and I took our food and went home.

Day 288: Park Avenue

He was a 20-something guy. I could tell he had an outgoing personality. When I asked him my question, he walked right up to me and tipped his Texas Longhorns cap back on his head. He didn't mind if I prayed for him. So I did. He thanked me. "I'm a Christian myself," he said. Then we shook hands, and he left. He was driving a green Buick Park Avenue. A woman, his wife I think, was sitting in the passenger's seat.

Day 287: Twang

He was a young guy with a shaved head, freckles and glasses. He had a little Texas accent. He was driving  a pickup. I took him for a farm kid. I asked him my question and he immediately said "yes." At first, he went to pull the gas nozzle out of his truck (we were at Quik Trip), but I stopped him and said a quick prayer. He crossed himself then and reached out to shake my hand. I really appreciate that, he said.

Day 286: What's the catch?

He was in his 30s, probably, a guy with a goatee and a ball cap, standing next to a four-door sedan, looking at his cell phone. I stepped over to ask him my question. He just looked at me. There was that typical silence, and then, "Oh." I thought maybe he said something more, so I asked him what he'd said. "Oh," he repeated.

What proceeded from there was one of the most sluggish conversations I've ever had. In very slow words, he asked, what I was doing. So I told him about my project. And then, again slowly, "What's the catch?" I told him there was no catch. I just wanted to pray for him. It would take just 10 seconds. Again, there was a pause. His eyes kind of wandered off in the distance, and I began to wonder whether he ever would answer. But he had to answer -- I was standing right there, waiting.

So I told him he could say no. That's not an option I usually have to offer up to someone. Normally, they come up with that on their own. Then he rubbed his forward, and said, "Well, no, I'm tired right now." That was his way of turning me down. Another moment passed, and he seemed content with that answer. So I said, "God bless you," and then thanked him and left.

On the way home, I wondered whether maybe he'd been drinking. But he really didn't look like it. He just wasn't on top of his game. So I prayed on the way home that God would bless him, and that he'd wake him up.

Day 285: The machinist

He was pouring gasoline into a tank in the back of his pickup. He was maybe 50 years old, a big guy with a machinists' union shirt on. I walked over to him and he looked right at me, attentively. He didn't hesitate at my question, starting to pull the gas nozzle out of the tank. (He said yes.) I told him he didn't have to stop what he was doing. I just prayed a blessing for him. Then I thanked him and left. He still was filling that tank when I walked away.

Day 284: The pastor

I figured him for a soccer dad, or a baseball dad. He was in his 40s and was wearing shorts and a t-shirt and looked somewhat athletic. I took him for a guy who spent a lot of time at the ball fields, watching his kids play. Naturally, those quick impressions we get of people aren't always completely accurate.

He was getting back into his little SUV when I got his attention. He spun around, attentive. So I asked him my question. His eyes widened. I can't remember exactly what he said then, but it was something like -- "Did you know?" And then, "I'm a pastor."

I've never encountered a pastor on this project. I needed it. He was encouraging. He told me about his church, which was in Salina. The pastor was taking a class at Friends University and was on the way home with his son. He's been at his church now for 17 years, right out of Manhattan Christian College. It has grown to the point that it started a second church.

He asked what I did for a living. I told him I was a journalist. "We need ministers in every occupation," he said. A church, after all, shouldn't consist of a pastor and just a bunch of members sitting in the pews. It should be filled with ministers who reach out to the world around them, no matter where they are. I couldn't agree more.

When I told him about my project -- to pray for one person every day -- he smiled. "One is a good start," he said. So I prayed for him there, asking for God's blessing and protection on him during his road trip.

But at the end of the day, he was a blessing to me. That's, after all, what ministers do: They minister. This project can be a drag sometimes. It's one extra thing to do in a day. The responses aren't always what you would hope. And sometimes I wonder whether it makes any difference. But running into a pastor like that reminded me that God's purposes are perfect. God has a plan that we couldn't possibly comprehend in full. Rather, we just do what we're called to do, faithful to Him, and he will provide the sustenance along the way. It's not such a drag then.

Day 283: Walking slow

He was a short guy, ambling along 1st Street and then Mosley. He was walking slowly, in no hurry to get where he was going. He was nicely dressed. And it wasn't until I got up to him that I realized how short he really was.

I caught up to him from behind and as I was passing him, I asked him my question. He just looked at me with a funny look on his face. He was of Asian descent, and wore thick rimmed glasses. "Pray for me?" I told him a little about my project then, how I like to pray for someone every day. He considered this, still smiling. "Well," he said, "if you're having trouble finding someone to pray for, I guess you could pray for me ... if it doesn't start raining." It's been a rainy week and every now and then a smattering of rain would fall.

So I told him I'd be quick, and I was. I prayed that God would bless him. I prayed some other things there, but it still was quick. Then he thanked me, pulling his hand out of his pocket to shake my hand.

Day 282: The beard

He was a rough looking guy with a ball cap and a big beard. He was probably in his 50s and stout. I asked him my question. When I first walked up to him, he just sized me up, not saying a word. Then he said I could pray for him. "Absolutely. My mother prays for me, and my brother-in-law is a pastor."

So I prayed for him. He thanked me, and we shook hands.

Day 281: Supportive

He was a short guy, probably in his 50s, with white hair. He was driving a silver Chevy pickup. He was leaning against it, filling up with gas, when I asked him my question. He didn't really hesitate. "You bet," he said. So I prayed for him. He bowed his head. He was friendly and confident. I told him about my project. "I'm really supportive of that," he said.

Day 280: The hat?

He was an older guy with a Kansas Jayhawks hat. He had been washing the windows on his truck. I stopped him just as he turned to get back into the driver's seat. He was friendly when asked him my question.

The long pause. I could see his eyes looking at me curiously through his sunglasses. He must have decided it was a joke. "Is it because of the hat?" he asked with a smile. I laughed at that a little bit. Then he said I could pray for him and stuck his hand out for a fist bump, which I returned. (Oldest guy I've ever gotten a fist bump from, I think). I had asked if I could pray for him right there on the spot, but he noted a car was waiting for him to move at the gas station and had to leave.

I prayed for him later.

Day 279: The truck

I didn't ask him about his truck. I should have. It was one of those trucks that catches your eye. It was a small, old Toyota with a topper. The original color -- or the base color -- was tan. But it was painted over with swirls of all kinds of colors. This wasn't a professional paint job. It was a spray paint job. The two "o's" of the Toyota on the tailgate were painted to look like eyes.

I saw him pull into the gas station and knew this was they guy. I think he was a landscaper, or a lawn guy. It looked like he had a bunch of plastic buckets, the kind that shrubs and trees come in, piled inside the bed of his truck. And he filled up a metal container with gas.

After he got back in his truck, I leaned in to his open passenger's side window and asked him my question. The man was probably in his late 50s or early 60s, with a shaved head. He was a smoker. He didn't really hesitate. "I don't see why not." So I prayed for him. He thanked me for it.

Day 278: Sugar, oil, pudding

That was my grocery list. Did you know that you can buy two 5-pound bags of sugar less expensively than you can buy one 10-pound bag? That was my education tonight.

The cashier was a nice guy. I was the last one into his line before he put up the "lane closed" sign. I actually arrived there too late, but he let me in anyway. It was the 20-items-or-less line. We chatted about the card scanner and how it often didn't work (it did this time) and about the plastic bags, which resist the notion of holding 10 pounds of sugar.

He handed me my receipt, and I asked if I could pray for him. His face scrunched up, confused: "Pray for who?" "I'd like to pray for you," I said. He considered this for a moment and then said I could. But he didn't have time right then for me to do it. So I told him I'd pray for him as I left.