Archive for the ‘The Stories of Strangers’ Category
magic –
I believe in magic. God’s kind of magic. The kind that times the end of Mary and my prayer together with the exit of a man in Starbucks. He pauses, “it’s great to see people praying publicly.”
“Are you a Christian?”
“Yes.”
“Where do you go to church?”
“I don’t right now. I used to be an assistant Pastor. I really should start going again. (Pause) Hey, would you pray for me?”
“Sure.”
I point to a chair and ask if he would like to pull it up to our corner table. He pulls it up and briefly describes what he wants prayer for. A break-up. I think she still loves me… I don’t want to sway the prayer, so I won’t say more, but would you pray for us.
We bow our heads and I pray.
As the words are spoken into the air between us, my heart is breaking for him. His disappointment and discouragement, not just in the area we are praying for but in his life feel palpable and I wish I could put my hands inside his chest and magically heal the wounds, but only Abba can do that. We raise our heads – he thanks me – says goodbye and heads out the door. As Mary and I say goodbye, I think about the timing.
A couple minutes later I pull into the gas station next to the Starbucks and he is at the pump next to mine. As I walk up to pay at the machine outside, he comes up and says, “I should have prayed for you too. Can I pray for you now?”
Sacred. A moment of stillness as he prays for me, thanking God for my heart and asking that God would continue to let His light and love shine through me. My eyes fill with tears. He has articulated my prayer. To be a light. To be used as a vessel of God’s love. While I know I am making a difference, I live in Christian circles: church, small group, work… It was refreshing to see that God can use us anywhere – at any moment.
Magic. God’s magic.
His magic – His son – in me.