Never Underestimate that dude on the corner

I was so excited about my run. I just started getting back to working out and I was... excited. I was so excited that I didn't realize it when my keys and my driver's license fell out of my sweatshirt pocket and onto the ground on a very busy Atlanta sidewalk.

In desperation I backtracked and found my keys near a pile of leaves, but my ID was nowhere to be found. I got stressed out as I sometimes do and started thinking about all the steps I would have to take to get a new one. A problem I made worse for myself, by not getting my Georgia license sooner.

Days later, I decided I wouldn't let the ID incident spoil my new motivation to get out and run. As I started my trek down Peachtree Road, I spotted a man in a big coat with shopping bags and wreaking of marijuana. He looked homeless. It was already dark, so I seized up a bit and plowed past him. He stared me down and I just knew he was going to ask me for money. I turned up the music on my headphones and started running.

I heard the man yelling as I ran. I turned and saw him waving and contemplated running away again. But when I took off my headphones I heard the magic words: "I HAVE YOUR LICENSE!"

This young man had found my driver's license two days earlier. He had planned on mailing it to my old address.

Thank goodness for that man and thank goodness I turned around. What's incredible, is that the man I had written off as a homeless druggie, lives in a luxury high rise on Peachtree.
I waited in his fancy lobby while he grabbed my ID.

The lesson I learned? Wrong or right.... people have layers. And when you decide who a person is before meeting them, you may block your own blessing.

Acts 10: 34-35


³⁴ So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

Lord, I want to see people the way you see them. I don't want to miss opportunities to be a blessing in someone's life... nor do I want to miss a blessing You have for me because I ruled someone out. Amen.

I've been living a double life....

I have often said that faith and fear are like light and dark: the two cannot exist in the same place. Not sure where I first heard that, but I believe the concept. If there is any light, even a glimmer, then you are not in complete darkness. But I have to admit, I have lived a life where I have straddled the line of faith and fear, of light and darkness.

One day, feeling I have a straight line to God, and others...feeling farthest from Him.

On one day feeling blessed beyond measure, and others... cursed.

A rock of encouragement for my friends and a pile of sand on the inside.

God and I have this history, you see. My failures and successes. My up and downs. I wish I could say my faith has been as consistent as God has been with me. He never changes, but I do.

Tough times can make me stop in my tracks when it comes to my faith. To go radio silent. To live & sulk in the dark. But when I choose to walk out of my dark house the sunshine feels so good on my face. His light.

He knows it is hard for us to trust when we don't see where things are going, or how He is working things out. But I do have the power to make a choice. A choice to take the same ligtht I lend to others... for myself.

My choice to see my past and what He brought me from as a match to jumpstart a fire of faith. I can't list all He's done, but when I do I sometimes want to slap myself for doubting.

Matthew 9:22

22 Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

Lord, thank You for my mother.
My father who stuck around.
A praying grandmother.
For freeing me from abuse.
From pulling me out of homelessness and poverty.
For teaching me I deserve love.
For teaching me how to love.
For protecting my life when I wanted you to take it.
For taking my risks and making them testimonials.
For my brother's life.
My sisters' hearts.
My mother's spirit.
And the gifts You give me.