Sometimes I miss the opportunity. This one I was ready for.

We passed on the sidewalk.

My town is good for walking so I was rucking home after getting a haircut.

There was nothing especially noticeable about him at first.

I nodded and said, "Hi."

We kept walking in opposite directions and he said, "Cool shades."

"Want them?"

I just felt like I should give them to him. There was nothing especially noticeable about him at first but after he quickly accepted my offer and we were facing each other I noticed that he looked like his life might be a hard one.

"They will protect me," he said.

"Protect you from what?" I asked.

"Evil."

"I don't think sunglasses do that. But I believe I know who does? May I tell you a story from when I was a chaplain in a psychiatric hospital?"

"Yes. I was just released from a psych hospital."

"There was a patient that some considered the 'sickest' one we ever had. The first time he passed me in the hospital he said, 'Hail Satan.'  I didn't want to trigger him so I kept my distance, but after about a week one of our nurses thought he might be ready for a visit with me. I introduced myself and he did invite me to sit and talk with him. We didn't talk for long.  I mostly listened but he did ask some questions about God and Satan. I answered with one question, 'Who do you think Jesus is?' He replied, 'The Son of God.' We didn't talk much more, but the good news is, the next time I came in he was calmly sitting in a chair reading his Bible. He greeted me warmly and apologized for his previous bad behavior. The clinical people believed the meds started working. I believe something spiritual began working. Probably both were true."

So, my new acquaintance, with his new pair of sunglasses who was looking for protection from evil, was open and receptive to my story. I told him to keep taking his meds. I also told him that when he is tormented by evil to say, "Jesus is the Son of God."

The result is immeasurable.

If I see him again and the opportunity presents itself, maybe we will start a prayer and study peer group in his boarding house. But if I never see him again, I am thankful for this encounter on the sidewalk. I don't know the result, and may never know if anything good was accomplished. I do know that he got the sunglasses he wanted, and I felt good to see him feel good that somebody paid attention to him and gave him something that he wanted.

I also realize that some situations with strangers are dangerous and should be avoided, but these fears should not keep us from all engagements with strangers and troubled people.

The 7th Essential of Care to be ready!

"Have your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." Ephesians 6:15

When we invite God to make us a caring person and ask him to bring people across our path that He wants us to care for, we will enjoy the surprises that come our way. Caring often takes place in programs and events that are planned, structured and scheduled--they are valid and full of surprises too. But most of the time, it is in the normal events of living life that everyone will  be used by God to make a difference in the life of someone. It might be a good deed for a neighbor, offering a smile to an elderly person, giving a compliment to a colleague, being present with a person in grief, rendering aid at an accident or engaging with a troubled and lonely person.

But events will come to those who are ready.

God works that way!

Your care matters!