He left going nowhere.

I left him sitting there. That is the thought that I can't get out of my head. Father God, you know I tried. Take what I couldn't do and give me a bread and fishes story to tell. Oh Lord, you know I will praise you, even when all I have is my faith to sustain me. But truly, that is all I need.

Returning to the office from the break last week, I knew today would be busy, but hitting the voicemail button on the office line and hearing eighty-one pleas for help was enough to concern even the most multi-tasked office strategist of all times. Children crying in the background as struggling grandparents requested Thanksgiving food boxes that would feed their extended families; soldiers trying to get bus tickets to try to make it home in time for the holidays; single moms asking if we had a Christmas program that could help provide presents for kids:  you name it, we got the call. 

Then he walked in. It took every ounce of my heart not to grab on to him and wipe the tears from his eyes as they fell in such a way that the physical pain that he was experiencing paled in comparison to the emotional pain he was in.  Sometimes, I barely have to say a word before people open up their lifestory to me. His was a tough one to hear, and as I bandaged up a puncture wound on his hand, I realized how lucky I was to be able to simply go to my medicine cabinet at home and find supplies to bandage my own babies with, or medicine to give them when they didn't feel well, or extra blankets for those nights that were getting colder as winter closes in. These things, I no longer take for granted. 

After an exhusting six hour trek to find a place for this man to sleep for the night so that he could walk to work at 8 in the morning, the final call came up empty. The center was closed, the lights were soon to be off, and here sat this man with nowhere to go. All places were exhausted, and I was now prepping him for a cold night abroad. After I felt he had what he would need for the night, out the door he went. He left going nowhere. 

As I said goodbye and walked out to my car, the tears came. Never as a way to let myself off the emotional hook, but rather try to see my effort through a different lens, I thanked God for this encounter. I thanked God for sending this man my way, because today, he received love. He received care. He received food and drink; but most importantly, he received a message of hope from  a Savior that had never left him, yet led him to this place.