On our way back to the truck, we were approached by Beverly, an 8th grade teacher who had recently come to find out that her car was about to be impounded after she had parked in front of a fire hydrant. She couldn't move her car, because early she had run over one of the cement slabs in a parking space and it had torn something under her vehicle. So, that is what brought her to us. She said that she needed 80 dollars to get her car towed and she had 52 at the time being OR she needed someone with AAA plus. When your in LA, your approached by all types of people for money. This is what made me skeptical... See, the thing was that Beverly didn't look extremely credible. So I immediately said "no I don't have anything sorry" which was true because I had absolutely no cash, but then I also told her that I didn't have AAA plus. I knew that in the car I had a AAA card, but no idea whether or not it was "plus," so I just said that I didn't have any form of it at all. So she says, ok and wanders off to talk to the next group of people about 100 ft away.
Once I got back to the car, I pulled out my wallet and looked and, what do you know, I had AAA plus. So I turn to Johnny and say "oh look I have it, but I cant go tell her now because then she'll know I was lying. Stupid thought #1. Then I say, "Well even if I did let her use it, it would take one of my free towing jobs off. Stupid thought #2. And THEN I said, "and if I let her use it, then I will have to sit around for a while and wait" WOW Stupid thought #3. How selfish am I to think that my time is sooo precious that I can not wait for a tow truck to come and help someone out.
In one of my incredible classes right now, called Advanced Relational Theory, I have been learning all about the importance of connecting with people outside of the church and just loving them, whether it be with words or actions that are accompanied by words. So because this class has been so convicting, I have been praying that God would give me opportunities because it seems like such an easy thing to do. Well apparently not.
It was pretty much handed to me on a Golden platter. "Emily, I will send you someone I love and they will ask you to give them something that you have plenty of and when you give it to them, you will be forced to sit around with them for at least 30 minutes and during that time you will be able to tell them about Me and the fact that I am using you to love them..."
So all of this hit me as we were driving away and to be honest I beat myself up about it all the way home. But once I got ready for bed, God began to show me that it was a test run. Its not easy as it looks, but at the same time, it seems as though it is. So now I am in this spot, realizing that I need to be so aware of what is going on around me. God wants to love people, and use me to do it.
2 comments:
I know how you feel. I'm in situations like that sometimes & then later I think, "Ohhh. I should have handled that differently." It's so easy to fall into selfish mode & reflect on the "suppose to's" after the fact though. One thing I love about hanging out with people like Cristina Hueso is that she would be in automatic & throw herself at situations like that. It's like she KNEW she should help people & just did it. One time we were going to eat lunch in Claremont & on our way we saw someone on the side of the road pushing their car. Well she pulled off to the side, got out, & started helping the lady push it! I was amazed! Most of the time we just drive on by, or think later "hmm, maybe I should've helped them". Another time we were at El Gran Burrito & this guy with a caste on was trying to scoop salsa & couldn't so she just got up & started scooping the salsa for him! I was like "Dang-she sees people in need & just HELPS." Anyway, the point is it's great to see that GOD is working you, & I hope that you can help someone in need in any way soon! : ) I hope I can too. Great blog!
I feel you on this Ems. I am trying my hardest to be aware of what the Lord ordains to come in my life and how I react to the situation, person, what have you. Love is to be genuine and we the two commandments that encompasses all of the Lords will is to Love Him first for that is where we get the strength and "how to" to love others. I pray for the same, that I will be mindful of his ways
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