To preface, every day on the way home from work, I pass an older black man who sits on his front porch. As I drive by him, I always wave and he waves back with this look that just screams "who the heck is this kid?" Nevertheless, he continues to wave back to me every single day. I decided that I wanted to meet this guy someday, but I can't exactly park my car on the road he lives on because it's very busy and there is no space to park on either side of the road. So I guess that while I have continued to wave at him every day, I subconsciously had given up on stopping to say hello. God does not care what I decide to do subconsciously.
So recently, I've been running a lot and trying
to get in better shape, so I decided to go for a run. Well I mapped
out my run on www.MapMyRun.com and it came out to exactly 3.15 miles. I
was quite alright with that, since I know I can run a 5k. Right
before I left for my run, my friend Daniel Garcia texted me and asked if I
wanted to go to Moe's for our traditional "Moe Monday" meal.
After a minute or so of hesitation, I told him I would have to pass
because I'm "watching my wallet and my weight." That was a hard
choice because, let's be honest, Moe's burritos are awesome... especially when
they are all $5.55 with chips and a drink on Mondays. Anyways, I head out
on my run and after about two miles, I find myself in a very run down area of
Lynchburg that I have never seen before. Everyone was sitting out on
their porches, having a good time and the houses were all significantly run
down. For a minute or so, I thought I was running down a street in
Jamaica. Everybody was so friendly and they all waved back and said hello
when I waved at them. I was blessed in those few minutes running down
that street.
Next thing I know, I have missed my turn and I
have no idea where I am. So I decide to turn left onto some random street and
about half a mile down the road, I see a street sign that I'm familiar with.
As I turn and continue on my run, I suddenly realize that I am on the
street I take home every day and that I'm about to pass that older man's house.
I got so excited that I started sprinting. Sprinting does not go
well with me by the way, I'm a chubby kid. As I came to the top of the hill
where this man's house is, I see him sitting on his front porch and he waves at
me as I approach. Now I'm wondering if he waves to everybody or if he
actually recognizes me outside of my car. So I wave back when I'm around
five feet away from this guy and I stop and introduce myself.
"Hello, I'm Jonathan, I drive by here every day and wave."
He looks right at me and says, in a deep, heavily accented voice, "I
know, I wave back every day. My name is Samuel." At least I
think he said Samuel, this guy's voice was all kinds of rough. We shook
hands and I asked him if that was where he lived. He said it was, and
that was it. I told him I would see him around. As I left his front
porch and continued running back to my apartment, I told God I would go back
and get to know this guy because I felt God laying it on my heart to just talk
to him. I have every intention of running that same route, which is very
hilly and slightly strenuous, so that I can learn more about this man's life.
Moral of the story: We don't make wrong turns.
Every single footstep of ours has been planned out by God and is a part
of His plan. I am overjoyed to see the opportunity to do God's work.
