Sometimes when you receive food from someone who has a checkered past, like a prostitute, you should just pray. And I don´t mean pray a blessing for the food, although that is a good idea. No, I mean you should pray for the woman who sells herself, who is holding out a plate to you. You should pray for her that God will show her a different way, a better way, a hope and a light. You should pray for her two children who you see playing in the street and the empty canal nearby with other kids. You should pray that any blessing you receive will be passed onto that lady who lives a life of pain.
Why would you ever be in a situation where a lady like this could even offer you food? Well, it´s simple, live in Matamoros, go visit a friend, sit outside on a bucket or old chair. Then when the fiesta for a birthday gets started, just wait and finally a plate of food will come your way. Sounds simple enough, right?
Isn't this like some of the situations Jesus found himself in while he lived on earth? Didn't he get in trouble by the religious right, I mean religious leaders of the day because of whom he associated with? But how else was he supposed to give away mercy, grace and love, compassion and forgiveness to those who needed it most? How else can a doctor heal the sick if he is not among the ill and infirmed?
I did not plan to be sitting right where I was at that moment last Saturday, but I was there. I think a lot of living for God is just being in the right place at the right time. Being, as opposed to doing, someone once told me. We can do and do and do, and go and go and go, but if we never 'be' where God wants us to be then we might miss out on some pretty incredible things in this life.
I could have turned the food down, but I didn't because here that is an offense, especially from someone whose family has so little. So I ate and I said a prayer and Martin did too. In fact, I am still praying for this lady and her family, her two boys, that they desire and seek after God. That they SEARCH for truth.
I am praying that her son who is 3 years old will come back to preschool again. The door is open....
Your right my friend...doing is the easy part for someone with a heart to serve. But "being", now that is a whole other matter in itself. We can get way too caught up in the doing without ever being. Lord God help us be more than we do. With such little time to actually do the task, let us "be" You while we do each one. Let us "be" in you while we do each one. Allow us oh Lord to "be" even when, or especially when, we are even doing nothing.
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