Day 57: A smoker

I’m not sure what percentage of the people I’ve met during this project are smokers. But it’s got to be a pretty high one, at least compared to the overall ratio of smokers in Wichita, Kansas. It’s just that smokers have to take breaks, and they have to go outside. And generally, they have to stand still. That makes them perfect targets.

He was smoking in front of the Marriott Hotel in Old Town, a guy about 35 years old wearing a ball cap. He was there when I crossed the street, and  he was there when I crossed over in front of the hotel, and he still was there when I walked up the sidewalk to him.

I asked if I could pray for him, and his answer was almost immediate. “Sure,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. So we prayed. I asked later if there was anything else I could pray for him about, and he said there wasn’t. But he thanked me and shook my hand.

Day 56: Pushing shopping carts

I wound up at Walmart tonight, looking for someone to talk to. The guy I found was a store employee, rounding up shopping carts in the parking lot. I walked up to him and asked if I could ask him a question. “What?” he asked. He was wearing an earpiece, probably so he could be summoned to some other job in the store at a moment’s notice.

He was a young guy, no more than 20. He was wearing shorts and one of those neon green blazers. When I finally did ask my question, he looked confused. “Pray for me?” After a few seconds he agreed, but was a bit surprised then when I bowed my head. But he followed suit, and I prayed for him.

I stuck out my hand after I’d finished – “Thank you Luis!” I said, reading his name badge. He shook my hand. It was wet. (It had been raining that day.) Then I walked into the store.

I bought two gallons of milk and went home.

Day 55: The pizza delivery guy

It was dark. Really dark. There wasn’t much of a moon in the sky, and the street lights were off in the distance. A big tree blocked any other possible light. So I barely noticed something was different about the car parked in front of me when I left by little brother’s house tonight. I discovered, of course, that it was one of those temporary signs the pizza guy puts on his car when he heads out to make his deliveries.

At first, I started to get into my car and just drive off, but then I sensed this was a good opportunity, so I waited. It took a few moments for the delivery guy to finish up at the house next door and then fumble his way with getting out of that fenced yard.

I kept my hands in plain view as I walked up to him, not wanting to startle him or think he was about to get robbed. To alleviate all his doubts for good, I asked him almost immediately whether I could pray for him. He said I could. Standing next to him, I could just make out his face. He was young, no more than 20. He bowed his head and listened to my prayer for him – for safety and blessings.

Then we shook hands and hopped in our cars, each going different directions.

Day 54: Go Red Sox!

I felt God really placing people in front of me today. On one occasion, I passed the same guy three times in the space of about three blocks -- both of us were wandering around, kind of aimlessly. But just as I was about to talk to him, he disappeared into a building. So I kept walking. It was a beautiful Friday evening in Old Town.

I passed a middle-aged couple and thought about talking to them, but I didn't. I passed a young intelligent looking guy -- big rims on his glasses and all -- and thought about talking to him, but I didn't. I saw a car sitting up ahead with its driver's side door open and thought about talking to the driver, who surely was sitting there, but I didn't. I passed a short guy with a Red Sox t-shirt as he got out of his car. I thought about talking to him, but I didn't.

It's funny because I'm feeling more comfortable with this mission every day. But then I pass up multiple opportunities some days. But I kept walking, eventually rounding the block. And there, sitting in Old Town Square, was the guy with the Red Sox shirt. He was smoking a cigarette. Probably 50 years old, what I most remember about him were his shorts and his white, white legs.

I stopped to ask him if I could pray for him. He paused and looked away, "No, not right now," he said. And then he looked at me. He spoke confidently, not seeming too put off by all this. "What church do you go to?" he asked. I told him Valley Center Christian Church. He nodded, seeming to know where Valley Center was. Then I asked him one more time, because a prayer would only take a few seconds. But he said no. However he told me he appreciated me asking him.

So I told him I would go ahead and say a prayer for him anyway as I walked away. And I did.

Day 53: A divorce

I met a friendly guy today who needed a prayer. I was walking along by one of the hotels in Old Town and saw him come out for a smoke break. He was an employee there, dressed all in black.

He greeted me as I came up to him, and I stopped there and asked him my question. He didn't hesitate in saying yes. So I prayed that God would be with him in his work that night and that he'd feel God's presence around him.

He smiled when I finished. "Thank you for doing that. Can I shake your hand?" he asked. I extended mine and we chatted for a minute or so. He asked my name, and I asked his. It was Phillip Morris. "Just like the cigarette company," I blurted. He smiled again. I bet he gets that a lot, but he didn't seem to mind. He was a gregarious guy, one of those who probably never meets a stranger.

Then I asked if there was anything specific he would like me to pray for him after I left. There was. "I'm going through a divorce," he said. "And I want to be a good father to my child. I'm a young dad and I just want to make sure my head's screwed on straight."

I promised him that as I walked back down the street that I would be praying for him and his situation. He thanked me, and I left.

If you have a minute, please say a prayer for Phillip.

Day 52: Smiley

I apologize in advance for the length of this post.

It was after dark in Old Town, and as I walked, I prayed that God would reveal to me someone who was on the verge. Someone who was close to making a decision. I wanted God to use me as he instigated a life change in someone. Perhaps God answered my prayer.

He was on the other side of the street when I saw him, so I crossed over and intercepted him. "Can I pray for you?" I asked. He paused for a long moment, looking at the sidewalk between us and then down the street. "Yeah," he said. And then he added, "It's funny you should ask that. I'm homeless. I don't have a job or anything." I found that surprising. He didn't look homeless. Just depressed. He was probably not much older than me. But his face was weathered. He had a tattoo on his neck that read, "Smiley." But I never saw him smile.

He went on to explain his story. His name was Randy, and he was at rock bottom. He felt like everywhere he turned was a closed door. He'd already spent eight years in prison. And recently he'd been through an addiction treatment program and left his hometown of Salina to get away from the temptations that were inherent there. But the halfway house where he was supposed to stay while he looked for work here had no bed for him. So he would be on the street for the next few days.

He told me he had been saved, and he prayed every day. But it was clear he didn't think those prayers had been answered. He was still searching. But he said he didn't believe in coincidences. One of his brothers had been killed recently while walking drunk on the street. Another was cooking meth when his lab blew up in his face. And Randy himself just recently was almost struck by a car while crossing the street.

And there I was, standing in front of him. We had a long talk about God and about how He lifts us up when we are at our lowest point, and how He delights in working through those who are weak. We talked about how God first wants to be in relationship with us. That's why He made us. And we talked about how it is God and God only who can free us from our sin.

We prayed there on the street. I prayed that God would reveal Himself to Randy in a big way, and that He would get this man off dead center and into a close relationship with Him. I asked if there was anything else I could do for him. Randy said he didn't have any money, so I gave him everything that was in my wallet. It wasn't much, just five bucks. Then we shook hands parted.

I prayed for Randy as I walked away. I don't know whether I said the right things, or whether I said too much or not enough. He was a discouraged man, someone beaten down by his own sin. I pray that God will lift him out of that pit.

And one more thing: I have the name of the halfway house where he eventually will be staying. I'm praying for God to tell me whether there's a next step.

Scripture: "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Day 51: A security guard

I saw him from a distance. He was walking in front of a building, long since vacated for the day. He clearly was a security guard, with his white shirt and badge. As I walked his way, I thought how much of a boring job that had to be – at least to me. Maybe he loves it.

I circled around the other side of the building and intercepted him on the back side. “Can I ask you a question?” I asked. “Can I pray for you?” He looked at me a little unsure but a little amused, too. “Did you?” he asked. I laughed at that and told him that no, I hadn’t yet prayed for him, but I wanted to. He agreed, and I prayed.

I asked him if there was anything more I could do for him, and he said no. We chatted for a few minutes longer. His name badge said William, but he shook my hand and told me it was Bill. It was a quiet night, for which he was grateful. The weekends can be rowdy. And then I left. He wished me well.