He
walked towards the table, never taking his eyes from the sign advertising
"Free Hot Drinks". "Would you like a hot drink sir?" I
asked, surprised at my own extra tenderness. I didn't want to hurt his pride,
but he looked rather pitiful. "It's free." I assured him. Looking up
with wide round blue eyes he told Elise and I, "coffee, yes, coffee."
Coffee was soon on the way. As I prepared the coffee Elise asked him how he was
doing. [Mind you it's freezing outside.] He nodded up and down,
"I'm going to the tower of London. Yeah, yeah, I'm going to the tower of
London this afternoon." "I"Oh wow, cool." We say.
"Have you ever been there before?" Elise asks. "Yeah", he
says. I handed him his coffee. Unlike most who stop for tea, coffee, or hot
chocolate he hung around for some time. He told us of his family, of the area,
and of his wedding the following day which then later turned out to be the
following week. I don't know whether or not he was serious, I have my doubts,
but you know what? Looking into this man's eyes I was deeply moved to remember
that God has a wild passion for knowing this man, whom we later learned is
"Steve".
*
Also
wanting coffee a young woman, whom we learned is originally from California,
came to us with a smile and spunk. Dear Steve informed her that he was visiting
the Tower of London later that afternoon. With kind courtesy she smiled,
"ohhh." Then giving me her business card in hopes to do a photography
shoot she left. Next came an older man, that same extra tenderness gripping
Elise and my heart once again. "Hello sir, would you like a hot
drink?" His eyes looked from the table to us and then to the table once
again. "It's cold out. What would you like? We have coffee, tea or hot
chocolate. It's free." I said. "Coffee." He replied. As Elise
prepared the coffee we learned his name was Charlie. "Charlie! That's one
of my favorite names!", I exclaimed. "It's my brothers name."
And "Steve" so happened to be Elise's father's name. Immediately that
bridged a connection between us. During our chat with the men we learned they
go to church, but knowing we don't have long I challenged them. "What
church?" I asked. Silence. Some obvious racking the brain, then a response
that seemed to deem the idea they named a church nearby. "That's okay, we
just want you to know that you're important to God." Elise and I
responded. Our heart went out to these men whom, I dare say, may be homeless.
Charlie seemed fine but at times he shook so bad, not even noticing the coffee
sploshing out of his cup. "Here, please have some biscuits. One cookie is
simply not enough." We encouraged. Then comically, Charlie encouraged
Steve to eat more biscuits before he took more for his own. Which really melted
our hearts. As they chewed on their biscuits we chatted, I can't recall what we
talked about but I do remember they were in no rush and that Charlie wished he
had a job. Upon seeing Charlie shake once more, we had enough. Elise pulled out
a hot packet from her pocket, took Charlie's drink from his hand, put it on the
table and placed the hot packet between his hands and began to rub them for
half a minute. ...
*
"I
have a question. " I asked, looking at them. "What would you want God
to do in your life this year, if He could do anything?" - "If you
could ask God for anything. What would it be?" Elise summed up. Steve
stared into his coffee and softly said, "forgiveness. I would ask God for
forgiveness." He shared in certain dismay. Ouch, my heart hurt. As we
encouraged Charlie to think about it, we responded to Steve by telling him
that's why Jesus came. We assured him that Christ came to earth to forgive him.
We assured them both that they are important to God, and that they are dearly loved.
[Trying to get across that God's love and grace is free.] But I will
admit, because this world is filled with pain and suffering, how are they going
to see God's love for them? People treat them rather poorly. We could see that
in people passing and stopping for a hot drink. I won't go without saying I
have been guilty of treating strangers poorly when I could have extended a kind
word or glance, oh how I'm ashamed of that...So, how will they see God? Will
their hearts be hardened by our cold treatment of them? Before they departed we
held their hands between ours and rubbed them as we brought them before the
Lord. I'm praying that the Lord will use our time with them to show them
they're worth knowing and listening to. We're praying that Charlie continues to
think about what it would be, that he would ask God for, and we trust that God
has the rest in His hands.
*Soon
after saying goodbye our new friend from California came by, rummaging through
her purse. We greeted her. She smiled but was obviously flustered. To our
surprise she yelled, "Where's my f** lighter?! Ha, I'm sure glad those
guys are gone. I was like oh my goodness. You know you can just never be too
careful." In complete understanding we agreed with her. "Yeah, we
need to be careful and I hope they do well, it was wonderful talking with
them." Our soft loving response caught her off guard. She could not find
her lighter but what she did say was without words. Without a doubt we could
tell she was saddened by her own words of judgement on Steve and Charlie. It
was seen in her eyes, the way she said goodbye and in her sad smile.
*
What
does it take for us love others? Like our friend said, sometimes you can't be
too careful. But, when is it unhealthy to walk by and wait for God to do
something through someone else? Sure, maybe it's talking to someone that is
outside your comfort zone. But I don't want to be guilty of sitting around and
waiting for somebody else to do what God has called me to do myself. Think
about it. If you are a believer, you've received a spirit of sonship. You're
not merely a servant, you are a son and/or daughter of the King. You don't have
to stand in a security line to go before the Lord. You don't have to put your
name on a guest list to go before the Lord. You don't have to stand outside the
"White House" dreaming up ways to speak to the "President".
You are a son and/or daughter of the King of Kings. If someone has a need and
wishes to speak with the Lord, you by all means have the power to bring them
right before the Lord. No security lines, no nothing, just simply bring them
straight to God. Some people don't know they can just call out and God will
hear them. Some people don't think God listens...But He does, and cares,
despite how it seems. You could be the one to show them that. Anytime of the
day you can run into our Father's arms. I don't want to rob someone else the joy
of knowing that joy.
*
Sorry,
a bit lengthy but I guess that's what I got out of our afternoon yesterday. It
will forever affect the way I live. Praying to have an eternal perspective for
this world.
This is the crowd we're here to reach. These are the people we get to spend time with and love on for only two months. They are so dear to God's heart. With each chime of the Big Ben fireworks exploded from it. At the last chime fireworks went crazy and I'm reminded that the time is NOW. It is time to stop holding back your gifts and talents and use them to bless others. It's time to embrace the day and not worry about the future. It's time to join with our brothers and sisters around the world in prayer. It's time to sing hymns and praises unashamed. It's time to partner with the local body of Christ and to engage others in reaching out to the communities. Let's be the catalyst to a world revival. The world's "eyes" are on London this year for the Olympics. Let's pray a revival happens in London and ask God what He wants to do, and then pray that it does. Let's pray revivals happen all around the world. Let's pray that CNN and FoxNews can only help but share and report on these stories. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to ignite our hearts with one pure and holy passion. It's time to stop doubting and time to believe for great things. "There is no one like our God, Greater things have still to be done in this city" and your city too. It's time to be the difference. It's time to see lives transformed by the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The time is now. What are you going to do?