Lending to the Lord

by Delta Vines

The day started sunny and full of hope.  I had a job interview for a position that sounded like a good fit and full of possibility.  There was a bus stop nearby the building where the business was housed. Since there was also a bus stop near my home, should I get the position, I could save money on gas and on employee parking. Since that was the case, I decided to take the bus to the job interview.  

As I approached the bus stop, identifiable by the Plexiglas shelter that surrounded it, I noticed several people around it.  Yet, it was virtually empty except for the one lone figure sitting on the bench inside.

She was dirty. Her clothing was stained with things I could not, nor did I wish to, identify. She smelled a lot like a combination of body odor and country outhouse. Almost as if it were a reflex I found myself scooting away from her while still sitting on the bench. It was at this point I found myself thanking G-d I wasn't like her – much like the Pharisee in the parable told by Jesus in the 18th Chapter of Luke.

Her head was bowed, as was her back, partly from shame at her condition.

To not draw attention to myself, I looked at this woman from the corner of my eye. Ratty clothes and matted hair caused me to begin silently rebuking any head lice that might be present. I’m sure I was not the only one thinking that, or worse.

Then I looked down I saw her feet.

She had simple canvas shoes on, nothing drastic. However, the top of both canvas shoes had been cut to make room for her toes. They were gnarled and twisted in a way I had never ever imagined could happen. So much so, that her toes protruded up and out making cutting the tops out of the shoes necessary. This lady could not wear regular shoes. Immediately I began to feel ashamed at my attitude.

My heart became involved as I smiled right at that woman, acknowledging her presence for the first time.

This older lady eyes began to look alert as she saw the bus approaching the stop. She looked at me saying something I did not understand – but I got the gist of it. This smelly, ratty woman was asking if I would help her climb the steps onto the bus.

Oh. I couldn’t really say no, but, what if she were carrying disease or something? It’s one thing to sit on the same bench; but to actually touch her? Shallowing my pride as much as I could, I answered “Yes, I will help you get up the bus steps”.

Then I took this beautiful woman by the arm and helped lift her step by step into the aisle. Before she could do anything else, I put the extra coins in the fare box as I paid for her trip as well as mine. She nodded at me as if to say “thanks”, then turned to walk toward the back disappearing from view. I took a seat near the front.

The thought occurred to me "Thanks, I owe you one."

HUH?

That was nothing like I would expect the Lord to say to me. “Must have been something else I heard” I thought as prepared to exit at my stop.

The job interview went well enough. The job however, was not the type of job I had hoped it would be. I thanked G-d for the job I already had and enjoyed the rest of my day off to catch up on housework and other mundane things.

I felt miserable all the while. That lady from the bus stop weighed heavily on my heart. I began to thank G-d for allowing me to have compassion toward her instead of stewing in my own pride. I prayed for her, that He would bring people to her to offer her a meal, a shower, some clothing, and some medical care for her feet. My life was changed that day. I never see another homeless person in the same manner as I did before then.

A while later, I found myself reading Proverbs 19:17

“He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deeds.”

My jaw dropped open.

I then remembered that still small Voice.  Never before did I know the Lord actually can “owe” us!

Now it is almost instinctual for myself, or our family, to help people we find out are in need. Never does my husband say anything negative when I drop several dollars in homeless people’s hats. He just smiles and says “I know, the Lord knows where it goes. We leave it in His hands.”

The Lord knows I don’t think about this as getting some sort of “payment”. Nor do I feel the Lord “owes" me anything.After all, I owe Him so much! He has out-paid me above and beyond everything possible.  A little kindness and love shown to another person costs me nothing but a misplaced sense of pride. 

Thank You, God, for allowing me to "lend" to You!