Country Roads

I drove back down the tiny country road, trying to avoid the pot holes in my shiny diesel truck. I could not get the thoughts of the old frame house in desperate need of repair, the tired little car parked in the yard and the weathered old man in a wheelchair out of my head. He and I had worked together on an assortment of different jobs. In spite of his bad knees, bad feet and obvious pain, his spirits were always good. My mission was to deliver some reading material I thought he might enjoy during his confinement. But no one was at home so I left it in the mailbox.

The mental picture of his situation, his exceedingly modest abode and that sad little faded vehicle gave me a feeling of being blessed beyond belief. It was difficult to keep my eyes from tearing up. But then…with a sigh…I thought maybe I was being judgmental. Maybe I was judging someone by their worldly possessions or lack there of.

The old man, actually one month my junior, is probably further down the road to our ultimate goal than I. Didn’t Christ say something about it being more difficult for a rich man to enter heaven? Perhaps through the old man’s suffering he is closer to God than I. I … by comparison…live in the lap of luxury.

Perhaps it is not a tear of pity I need to shed but rather that I should covet what he has.

Thank you, Lord, for all the riches you have blessed me with.
Please, Jesus, help me not waste those resources on foolishness.
Please guide me, Lord Jesus, and help me use those assets to point others toward You.
Amen