something astonishing

“An orange,” she said, “I’d really like an orange.” “A ride,” he said, “I could really use a ride.” And in my astonishment “wanna do that one again?” I said. She was walking across America, and he was walking across Pitman’s fields. I went walking around the chapel checking the doors. Her name was Judy, his was Matthew, and mine is plastered everywhere.

She was walking across America in order to minister to people who don’t go to church. She went through eleven pairs of shoes on the way, and while she was wearing through one of those pairs she was thirsty, and hungry, and she thought to herself….“an orange would be good.” And so she walked and said this thing to herself, and to God.

He was walking around aimlessly after school without a ride. He had no phone, and wanted to call home. “This sucks,” he thought, and said, “God I could really use a ride home.” And he continued to walk.

I was not walking at all. I was sitting just below our church’s sanctuary, in the chapel. I was playing the drums and jamming with some friends and family.

Then something astonishing happened. A man on a bike rode up to her, and she didn’t even hear him approaching. He talked to her and asked her about what she was doing walking. She said she was walking across America, and told him where she planned to go for the day. He bid her good luck, and started to ride away. “Oh ya,” he said, “almost forgot.” He tossed her an orange and rode away.

And then, something astonishing happened. There on the ground in front of him was a cell phone. He picked it up and opened it. “God loves you” said the background, and he called for a ride home. After he made the call home, he Looked through the list of people and found one labeled “mom,” and gave it a ring. The mother was across campus by the pool; her daughter must have dropped the phone.

And then, something astonishing happened. A man and his son walked into the chapel while we were playing. “Sounds good,” he said. None of us had ever seen them before. “You guys are gonna minister through this music.” He prayed with us, and mentioned that God was the reason he was able to walk down there and pray with us at that very time. Then he walked back around the corner and left. And I never saw him or his son again. Then I said to the guys, “wanna do that one again?” And we did. When our jam session was over, I walked around and checked all the doors. They were locked.

It’s amazing how God works through all these simple things. Everyday events turned into something astonishing. My little brother started a band with his friends, and they play good music. Matthew got his ride home. Judy went on to preach to countless churches, including my own. “I write clever words on paper” and slowly they turn into music, even if no one has heard their sound. A friend of mine from the band has an amazing voice and a wonderful gift of faith. Even though he may not know it, he ministers to people through these things.

I cant prove that Noah’s ark is up in some frozen mountain, or that the ark of the covenant is hidden in a secret location. I can’t show you David’s sling, and I can’t show you a ring engraved with the words “this too shall pass.” I can’t show you the orange or the cell phone, and I can’t show you the man and his son. I can’t show you God, but I sure can see him myself.