Freeway Encounters

**came across this inspiring article about a man who takes pictures of homeless people in LA and listens to their stories--http://www.ryot.org/beautiful-photos-homeless-people/451489

About a week ago, I had gotten off the freeway and a homeless man stood in the corner. We made eye-contact and he motioned that he was hungry and I responded with a sympathetic look as to tell him that I didn't have anything to give him. Except I did. Horrible, huh? I was on my way to the gas station that was located right next to the exit and I had been saving the money for my car. I parked, felt uneasy, walked to the register, paid for my gas, and asked for change. I pocketed the money and ran to the corner to find the man, but he was gone. I felt...selfish. I was thinking about myself and my needs above this man's. A genuine and semi-ridiculous question popped into my mind--what if that had been Jesus?! I decided to save that money and give it to the next person in need.

Yesterday I was on my way to school. Stopped at a red light right before the entrance of the freeway and there was a homeless man standing in the corner. We made eye-contact and I looked away, only to remember that I had saved what I didn't give to the last man. I pulled out the money, rolled down my windows and tried to grab his attention. I handed it to him and he was super grateful. I started to roll up my window but stopped because he started to ask me some questions. Basic ones like, are you in school? where do you go? And I kid you not, every time I answered a question I was about to roll up my window but he continued to talk. The conversation came to an end and he started to walk away. The light turned green and I made my way onto the on-ramp when I saw the man stop, look back and wave and smile at me. I waved and smiled back and continued on my way to school.

I should have felt better about the second situation right? But I didn't. If you don't already know, metacognition is my forte (I don't even know if I used that word correctly). What I'm trying to say is that I think about thinking. So in that second moment, I was thinking about what I was thinking when I was rolling up my window. Did I really think just handing him the money would somehow make up for the first situation? Did I expect myself to feel better about it? Did I do a good deed to feel validated as a "good" person? And then I started thinking about how this man was going to use his money. I remember I used to be hesitant about giving strangers money because I was never sure of how they would use it (because I'm such a great steward of money, right? -_-) Was he on his way to buy drugs? alcohol? junk food? pay bills? These thoughts turned into prayers--prayers for him and for myself. Praying that he would have a real encounter with Jesus and that his journey would lead him into His arms. Praying that even though he had little he would realize his richness in Christ. Praying that I would trust God and that I would believe that no matter what this man uses his money for, I would have faith in his sovereign and good plans. I am humbled by His goodness.

Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.