WRITTEN BY TIM LABRECHE
Exiting the coffee shop on a cold, wintery Saturday in downtown Sioux City, I started walking towards my car across the street. As always, I didn’t wear my coat, even though the temperature said I probably should have been. As I approached the door, I noticed in the distance an elderly gentleman on a mobile scooter struggling to get into the large glass exterior doors of the bank. Because my mom taught me right, I ran over to open it for him. He nodded and smiled in appreciation. I watched him go towards the main doors of the bank. Seeing that all the lights were off inside, I watched to see what he would do.
He kept trying to open the main bank doors to get in, but they were obviously locked. He seemed very confused. I went up to him to see what else I could do to help him, but he was fixated on getting in. I tried showing him what the Hours of Operation posted on the door said. The lobby was closed on Saturdays, but the drive-thru was open. When I tried to explain it to him, he struggled to hear or understand me. He really didn’t hear or speak that well, but that didn’t stop him from trying to communicate. He was full of determination! I had to explain it a few more times. He was able to tell me that the young man who usually makes his bank runs for him works overnight and couldn’t run to the bank to pick up his “envelope,” so he had to do it alone because he needed his money for his food and medications.
I told him I would go find the drive-thru window and asked that he wait there for me where it was warm. He agreed. I walked outside and started following the exterior of the building until I found the drive-thru windows on the very opposite side of the building.
I ran back so I could show him where to go. In our 5-minute trek in the blowing wind around the building, I asked him questions about himself. His name was Arthur*. He was 92 years old, and he had lived in the very same apartment since the mid-1970s. He also served as a Green Beret in the Korean War. He was very proud of that—that he could communicate clearly!
Once we got to the window, I explained the situation to the bank teller, and she knew exactly who he was and what he needed. She stepped out of view for 30 seconds, returned with his envelope, and passed it through the teller drawer for him. We secured it in his coat pocket so it wouldn’t blow away, and then we scooted away from the window.
Since there were no other cars in the drive-thru lane, I asked Arthur if we could move forward a little and connect. We chatted for a few minutes the best we could, and then I asked him if I could pray for him. He mumbled something that I didn’t understand and scooted away. I didn’t get to pray with him, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still pray for him.
I don’t share this story to toot my own horn, but as an example. It wasn’t until later that afternoon that the Holy Spirit showed me that this was another way of working in tandem with the Holy Spirit. Working in tandem with our Savior doesn’t always have to be for some grand or lofty goal. He works with us in the small things too.
2 Kings 6:1-7 tells the story of the man who was cutting down trees with an axe he had borrowed from someone. At one point, as he was cutting a tree, the axe head came off the handle and fell into the river. The man panicked because it was not his axe. Elisha, a man of God, calmly asked where it sank and worked in tandem with God to not only reveal where it was but also have it float to the top so they could easily retrieve it. I love this story because it shows that when we show love and concern for those around us, whether we know them or not, we work side by side with our Savior.
Whether it’s a borrowed axe, a sick pet, or an upcoming test or certification, our Savior cares about what could be considered “little” in the grand scheme of things. He wants the best for us in every area of our lives.
My time with Arthur also reminds me of Hebrews 13:1-2. It says, “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” The phrase ‘show hospitality to strangers’ can also be translated as ‘to love strangers.’
I usually end these prayer focuses with questions for you to ponder and pray about. This time, I’m switching it up. I’m giving you a challenge. My challenge to you is to work in tandem with our Savior in what may be considered small in your eyes but could possibly make an eternal impact in someone else’s life. Keep your eyes open, or boldly ask the Holy Spirit to bring you someone who may need a helping hand and do an act of loving kindness for someone you may not know. This not only gives us the opportunity to serve someone, but it may also introduce them to their Savior.
* His name was changed to protect his privacy.
