Do you like Lifesavers? He asked me. Thanks, but no thanks, was my reply.
Floyd, (not his real name) was leaving the hospital where he had been my roommate for a few days and was going home. Trouble is that he was leaving with four big tumors in his liver, a failing immune system, and many more problems.
Floyd stood there awkwardly, dressed in flannel shirt with cut out sleeves, sweats that showed he was familiar with car repair - truly a mans man, very reluctant to show emotion yet filled with fear and showing an obvious desire to somehow connect. I know the signs in People who are desperate for a sense that God exists and that God loves them despite their rough and obnoxious exterior and/or, ( in Floyds mind at least) a huge pile of sins.
My encouragement to him had been to simply get himself in Gods presence and pray the prayer of the father in Mark 9: Lord, I believe, help my unbelief! Your part is just to get there, God will do the rest. Recognizing that God was already in his heart and that his lifestyle had not fully separated him from God, was a great relief to Floyd.
Do you like Lifesavers? He asked me. Thanks, but no thanks.
How badly I wish I would have just said, Floyd, I love Lifesavers, and received his gift with grace. I was too distracted to noticeI never ask, What would motivate a man like Floyd to give a near-stranger a somewhat worn out pack of Lifesavers?
I believe whatever motivated Floyd was far more profound than a few words of encouragement I spent on him. I believe absolutely that God, who knows our hearts and minds had created an opening to this mans soul through which he was reaching out to almost anyone who could help him find a connection to the Divine. He would have been proud to have given me the lifesavers but even more proud to feel he was worth my attention.
Do you like Lifesavers? He asked me. Thanks, but no thanks.
This kinda got to me and I thought I would share it.
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Tell me and I'll forget. Teach me and I'll remember. Involve me and I'll learn.
From where I sit, it was a perfect exchange, just as it happened. I can't see how you both didn't walk away with the gift of a deeper connection to Higher Power. He reached out, you were there... God always provides. If God hadn't sent you, He would've sent someone else, right?
God is good. The universe unfolds exactly as it should.
Thanks for sharing. Reminds me of one of my favorite parts of the book @ the end of chapter 4.
Save for a few brief moments of temptation the thought of drink has never returned; and at such times a great revulsion has risen up in him. Seemingly he could not drink even if he would. God had restored his sanity.
What is this but a miracle of healing? Yet its elements are simple. Circumstances made him willing to believe. He humbly offered himself to his Maker - then he knew.
Even so has God restored us all to our right minds. To this man, the revelation was sudden. Some of us grow into it more slowly. But He has come to all who have honestly sought Him.
When we drew near to Him He disclosed Himself to us!
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
Perhaps this is not the time or place for humor, but Bob I love LifeSavers, and can no longer find them anywhere, so my response would have been different.
Thank You again for shairing this touching time with us.
