It Was Simple

Ironically enough, he was our server. We were out for drinks and dessert and he was dashing around, his typical routine. This server, Joseph, had kind eyes and a farmer's heart (you can sense those kind of things). After handing us cups filled with laughter and food, quickly devoured, the tide was quickly turned on him.

"So, what's your story?"

It's not likely that someone will tell you the truth if you ask them, "How are you?", but if you ask them to tell you their story, there is bound to be some sort of truths revealed.

He unraveled a past, full of farming and family. He was moved to Hershey after his father got a new job. A deer recently vaulted through his windshield and uncomfortably lay still in his back seat. He showed us pictures on his phone. Next, a little deeper, he told us about partying in college. Drinking his weekends away, followed by drugs as a chaser.

It was one of those weekends when he decided to dive head first into the shallow end of his pool. He woke up the next morning in severe pain and drove himself to the hospital. Doctors were in awe as they announced, "Your neck is broken! It's a miracle that you're alive and that you could drive yourself into the hospital?!"

He told us how he heard news reports of other kids diving into pools. Their outcomes were not so similar. You could see in his eyes he was thankful, yet, not sure whom it was he should thank.

"Do you realize that God has a plan and purpose for your life? It's no coincidence that you are still here, alive."

He side-smiled and agreed, searching our eyes for answers.

His typical routine took him away. More food to serve and more drinks to pour.

As His heart pounded in my chest, I knew we couldn't let this one go. We shouldn't just let this go. He needed to hear that we would pray. That we would believe. That God created him and if all his life was leading up to these typical moments, everything was going to be different because he was gonna hear that Jesus is so in love with him that he protected him just so he could hear these truths.

He returned to give us the check and I asked him if we could pray. It was simple.

This is why we're alive.

"Do you know what your name means?"

He shook his head.

"It means God increases. So, that's what I'm going to pray for you."

And we did. That God would increase his wisdom, his finances, his protection, and his understanding of how much God loved him.

Joseph looked me straight in the eyes. He said, "thank you", the kind that means more than those two words can convey.

I'm believing that this was only the beginning for Joseph. More encounters with Jesus's love are on the way.

Let's step out on the water more often. God, increase our faith and increase our boldness. Love is wild and zealous and it pushes us to do crazy things. And it just, might, change the world.

Cheers, it's Friday!