Sunday, July 1, 2012

John Sparrow




"Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:16-17


I know its been a while, but I knew what was put on my heart shortly after meeting John (I'll explain the made up alias). 
It was the usual, same kind of boring Tuesday at work. Just filled up my favorite coffee dog cup & was finishing up writing an order for someone who had forgotten to before their day off. I stroll past the sample station and my attention immediately pulls me to the conversation ( I wasn't TRYING to be nosey, really) Once I stop and sort of creep around a bit, my eyes settle on a young guy, around 24-ish, shaved head, over-sized T shirt, blue jeans, striking blue eyes. Then I notice the dirt, I notice the cuts, I notice the look of shame & the unconvincing effort to make up a story about "His father and him staying in a hotel room, needing very simple things to cook: No stove or such things." (Which very well could be partially true) 
But as he spoke to Sharon, slipping a sample into his mouth, then another...then another....then another; I realize with every bite this is not the entirety of the matter. He slowly backs himself out of the conversation and slips into the sunshine of Carmel Mountain. As I watched him go, I made an escape into the back room and sighed in heart-wrenching helplessness. As I start to tear up, Sharon follows me back, "Hey, are you okay? Whats wrong?"
I'm almost speechless. "Did you get his name?" "Huh???Who?" "The guy, the guy you were just talking to." "Oh, no, why?"...I tried to explain, but why bother? His hunger was beyond obvious, I just smiled and walked off.

I walked back to my stack of beer, but I couldn't shake those eyes from my mind. Lord, I have seen/spent time with/prayed with plenty of "keyless" as my old boss JB would call them & it's been a long time since I have seen and almost felt how hungry that man was. As the tears started flowing from my eyes,  I self admitted myself to one of my 10 minute breaks. 

I wandered back to the artists den, where a wonderful and beautiful Jesus lovin lady named Bree gets her art on and I plopped and cried. I told her everything I saw. Like a woman of faith, she simply replies, " How much more valuable is he..." is all I hear. Yeah, yeah, than a sparrow. I know this one.... But that's not enough. All I wanted to do was feed him, why did it have to be at a time when I couldn't possibly do anything? To make his belly as full and happy as those eyes may have been once. Then come all my other, Why?....why.....WHY?'s & I cry out to God silently as I sit there. Then I pray for him, all I can do is, pray. I pray that John would come across a stranger sometime very soon after, who would reach out-look into him- and do what I was unable to do; I practically command it in desperation. 

Believer, not a believer, whatever. Lord, send ANYONE to feed him. Bless him. Show him he's loved and yes, much much more valuable than Your sparrows. 







Knowing He WILL wipe away EVERY tear,
Valerie