More From Lyla Peterson

“They are going to kill me,” the young man said in a low voice, pacing back and forth next to me, as we waited for the bus. “If I don’t pay them the money I owe, they say they are going to kill me.” He was genuinely afraid. “Do you know Jesus?” I asked, and he nodded “yes.” I put a small red card in his hand that said, “Keep calm Jesus is in the boat.” He took it gratefully.

Since writing today’s meditation, I have had only a few encounters with people who are homeless in my city. But again, my first reactions have been similar to how I felt about the man who camped in my parking spot. I have felt a sense of outrage at why they were where they were.

A couple of the people have been young women. One had a sign and was standing, wrapped in a blanket, by the post office. The other was standing next to a van at the edge of a grocery-store parking lot, holding a sign, with a child of about two years old. I saw them as I left to go home after shopping, and I wondered if they were scamming.

I walked past the woman at the post office without making eye contact as I went into and out of the building. Then, when I got into my car, I felt that gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit. I thought about what her situation may be like. I took some money, gave it to her, and told her it was in the name of Jesus.

I drove past the woman at the grocery store and was halfway home when I kept thinking of her sign and the small child beside her. Her sign had the name of Jesus on it. Again, I felt the Spirit’s nudge. I drove back and gave her some cash. She allowed me to pray for her and said she needed money for rent. I wondered if she lived in the van. Together we prayed for her request and asked Jesus to help her. She smiled beautifully, and her child waved as I left.

The terrified young man also let me pray for him. He calmed down when we prayed. Once we were on the bus, I gave him the contact information for a couple of ministries that share the gospel with people through phone, text, and online chat conversations.

I remembered today’s meditation and what was shared in these encounters. It reminded me to slow down and respond to the Spirit’s gentle nudge and to ask for God’s help in each situation.