It was an interesting afternoon of prayer and walking Friday afternoon! Mike Downey and I walked around Willow Pond and Mike's simple idea was to ask God for His eyes...to see what He sees.
We talked with various people before encountering a man named Jerry (pictured above kneeling down) who was intoxicated by a powerful drug of some sort. He was extremely animated (in sharp contrast to his posture in the above photo). The things he was saying were very dark and sad.
Jerry talked and talked. At times he got angry and I was envisioning him potentially attacking us. At other times he became really loving.
I prayed under my breath the name of Jesus. Mike decided to take the authority in the conversation at one point by saying the Name out loud. "We've found the way," he said, "His name is Jesus."
After a while, Jerry walked over to the nearby Coke machine and began to aggressively talk with a man named Jose (on the left above). Jose didn't understand what he was saying (Jose speaks Spanish)...but I think he knew it wasn't good. And so Mike made his way over to Jose to apologize for our new friend.
Mike's conversation with Jose ended up being all about Jesus. Mike proclaimed the Good News, in Spanish, and Jose was eager to hear it. And for some reason Jerry fell on his knees. I don't think he understood the Spanish Mike was speaking, but yet he fell to his knees. If Mike would so much as pause briefly, our friend would look up and say "keep going." Later the police had to be brought in to help with our friend.
My prayer? That someday Jerry is set free. I once heard a friend say "it's not mostly about the harvest as it is about the planting and the watering." I believe a seed was planted. And yet, frankly, it is hard work to believe that Jerry could be saved. (Maybe that is why Jesus said the work "is to believe." I think it is sometimes pretty hard work!).
Two boys from the Kids Club who witnessed some of our interaction said about Jerry: "He's crazy." And he sure did act crazy.
How does God see him? As His Son. Paid for. Precious. Infinitely valuable.
I like those eyes.
Oh...and one other detail. Jose prayed to receive Christ! Right there in front of the Coke Machine. Mike and he exchanged phone numbers and we'll stay in touch with him. Praise the Lord.
--Dean Wilson
