The truck was huge. Full sleeper cab with a 53 foot trailer. No way, should it be rolling down our street, as it’s narrow with cars parked against the curb.
He’s driving slow and I see he’s checking out our wares. It just so happened we were having a Saturday yard sale.
The salesman in me shouted out ” free truck parking, whatcha want to see?”
His response, ” does that boat float?”
So, I’ve been on this kick lately. Reflecting on the people that have impacted my life, after meeting them by what seemed like a coincidence.
I’ve come to understand that it was really the result of taking the time to go beyond the pleasantries and learn “the rest of the story”.
Our plates are so full, we often don’t seem to make room for new people. We may meet someone and “friend” them. Yet, rarely dive deeper. What’s interesting is what often happens when we do.
For example, have you ever been a long way from home, only to meet someone that either lives near you, or you find there’s a common denominator? Such as you know the same person, or worked for the same company, or went to the same school.
I’m sure you have, it’s common enough there’s an idiom for it.
“it’s a small world”.
In which the comedian Steven Wright hangs this one liner “but I wouldn’t want to paint it”.
On the grass, propped up by a table leg is a remote controlled boat. That’s what had caught his eye, and prompted the question. Grabbing it, I ran up to his truck, climbed up on the step, and handed it to him.
As he’s looking at it, I asked where he was from. He said he was from Atlanta, in which I shared that in my past career, I spent a lot of time in nearby Jenkinsburg.
His truck has the street blocked, but there’s no traffIc, so our conversation continues. When I responded to his question regarding the name of the company I used to work for, he flipped open his notebook.
I’m staring at a business card from my old employer.
“small world”
He shares that he works for a temp company that provides fill-in drivers. This day he was hauling groceries, but does often haul for my old company.
I tell him the boat was new, but I didn’t have the controller. It was a promotional item that American Express sent out to bait you for a meeting. If you agreed, you received the controller.
I never did, but told him where to get one.
There was another rub. I misplaced the battery pack. I had it the night before, but couldn’t find it that morning.
I said that I’d sell him the boat for 5 bucks, and if he would give me his address, I’d send the battery once I found it.
He did, and traffic started to back up, so off he went.
We’re wired for community, and I’ve learned that God continually places people along our path, that can impact our lives. Not by coincidence, but by design. It’s up to us to take the next steps, and welcome someone new in our lives, or plow along on our increasingly individualistic roadway.
About 3 hours after he had driven off, my wife found the battery.
The following Monday, I shipped the battery, along with a never used logo branded backpack of the company I used to work for.
Later in the week, I received a voicemail from him, as I had shared my phone number. He thanked me, and asked me to call him back.
I didn’t call, as he had thanked me on the message. I was glad to know he received it, that was good enough for me.
It’s much easier to disengage than engage. This was a nifty “small world” event, but now back to my sandbox.
Later the same day, another message. He pleaded for me to call him back.
Ok, guess he wants to be sure I got the thank you.
I call, and after thanking me, he says,
“I told my wife I met a brother in Christ”.
…stop.. rewind.. think back to conversation…. nothing remotely regarding Jesus was discussed.
“What makes you think I’m a Christian”, I asked.
He said he had good discernment, and when I said I’d ship the battery, he believed that I would.
then.. he asked if he could share his story.
He shared an amazing testimony. He spent over 3 decades on the streets in Detroit, with a life that included gangs, homelessness, and drug addiction.
Kept alive only by the grace of God, finally dropping to his knees and surrendering— asking Jesus to save him from himself.
I’m crying like a baby. He’s crying, and praising God.
He’s long been clean and has a new family. He also reconciled with children he hadn’t seen in years.
Against all odds — unbelievable
( His story should be a book, I hope that happens)
What a powerful testimony.
Then, I thought about meeting him- what are the odds?
Just so happened to be having a yard sale.
Just so happened a truck rolled by.
Just so happened I misplaced a battery.
Just so happened that’s the item he was interested in, requiring a follow up.
Just so happened I did ship the battery.
Just so happened he called, and called again.
Just so happened I returned the call.
The result;
I was blessed with an amazing example of how Jesus changed his life.
Was this just a coincidence? Perhaps
but wait…there’s more…
He tells me that he would like to work full time for my former employer. Would I be willing to reach out to them, and get him an interview?
How could I say “no”, especially after what he’s just shared. After all, it’s no big deal, right?
I say, “of course”
we hang up, and I begin to stress..
Stress? Yup, knot in the stomach stress…
See, I hadn’t yet shared the “rest of my story”.
What he didn’t know was that 5 years prior , while at the top of my game, I got fired.
Success had gone to my head. It became more about promoting me, than the company. (More on this in future posts)
Embarrassed, I took the easy path, and distanced myself from anyone inside the company.
Now, in order to help this guy, I had to reach out to someone in my past. Someone, who was a friend but I hadn’t spoken to in 5 years. Crap!
I couldn’t make the call, but I fired off an email. Within in minutes came a reply that started with
“great to hear from you my dear friend”.
I was blessed by being able to rekindle a long lost relationship. In addition, I had been assigned a task that week, related to a bible study. The task required me to ask someone for help. I had resigned myself to accept I’d be failing for the week, as that’s something I just couldn’t seem to do.
However in order to help him, I was required to ask someone else for help, thus completed my task.
Did God orchestrate all of this? Color me crazy, but I’m convinced that exactly is the case.
When I called back to give him the contact and interview information, I shared my ” the rest of the story”. I also stated this wasn’t a coincidence.
He then shared, “wait there’s more”.
He wasn’t supposed to make that trip, as his wife had just given birth. At the last minute his sister -in -law agreed to stay with his wife and baby, so he could make the haul.
When he turned on my street, he realized it wasn’t the right path. Staring at a no trucks allowed sign, he stopped and asked someone where he could turn around. They told him it was ok, as there was an entrance to the interstate at the end of the street and just to keep going.
wow- this was beyond a random series of events,
I go back to where I believe we are always surrounded by people God has equipped to benefit us, or for us to benefit them.
What lies on us, however; is whether or not we take the time to engage in deeper conversation with people we’ve just met. In this case, the story required each of us taking action in order to continue the dialogue. Either of us could have ceased to follow through and ended the dialogue without knowing the rest of the story.
By following through, we both were blessed and a new friendship has developed.
Everyday brings a series of seemingly random events. It’s our response to those events that shapes the outcome.
I think God creates the opportunity for “small world” events, continually right in front of us.
My “small world” events were typically always across the world. Why? Because I was usually on vacation, and relaxed. Thus, taking the extra time to go beyond a nod, wave or “hi, bye”.
By taking the time to genuinely engage the people I met on excursion, a connection was often found.
I’ve since found that the same happens right where you are. Grocery store, workplace, or out for a walk, the opportunity is there, if only we slow down, and take the time to meet people below the surface.
Other words, sharing and listening to
“the rest of the story”.
Don’t just take my word for it, try it for yourself.
rescued and restored
al