CALLED TO "PEOPLE"

I was about to slide into a private spot in the busy food court at ORD airport but this dude took my spot.  #ladiesfirst #everheardofit #rude

The only other open seat was at a community table.  A boy sitting catty corner to me.  He looked like my youngest son.  I reluctantly took my seat and made sure to keep my headphones in.  After dealing with 320 people on the airplane already for the day, I wasn’t interested in “people-ing” at the moment.  #leavemebe #needtobreathe

I made a mental note of the large gold bling on the kid’s neck. An intricate and what looked to be handmade gold cross.  It hung out from his sweater and even over his parka.  Either he was a rapper or he loved Jesus… #saltandpeppashere #washethesalt #aJesuslover #orboth

Was this a divine appointment?

I asked the Lord, “How do you see this young man?”

-Frontiersman  

-John Wayne 

-Lead the way

-Independent

-Doesn’t need a lot of anything or anyone

-Lonely

Sigh.  I guess God wanted me to “people” again today.  

I pulled the earphones out.  

Everyone within earshot got up and left like I had cut one but the air was still fresh.  Should I say something? I felt a God nod. 

I started with something we might have in common.

“Nice necklace.”

Synopsis of the convo that followed:  

-student from Czechoslovakia traveling home (hard to spell #notphonetic #squigglyredlineswontgoaway)  

-not a Jesus lover

-He was not, in fact, a rapper OR the white meat of a salt & peppa band.  

-necklace was a gift from his great grandmother to her grandchildren before she passed away at the ripe old age of 90.   His father had pulled a re-gift and given it to him.

CG (Czech guy) told a fascinating story about the gift giver.  His Great Grandmother lived through the Holocaust!  She was German but she married a Czechoslovakian solder (his great grandfather).  She wasn’t Jewish.  She betrayed her country by marrying a soldier of the enemy so the Nazis arrested her.  She went to a concentration camp called Theresienstadt (he spelled it 4 times for me and i still couldn’t get it. why don’t Czech’s do phonetic spelling?)  Miraculously she lived and had the tattooed numbers on her arm to prove her imprisonment. Her husband lived and hence the necklace to the grandchildren.  

My version of what happened next: 

Me after story:  Okay so she was a Christian

CG:  Maybe. I don’t know.  Maybe she was catholic or something

Me:  Well, do you think that’s why she gave your dad a necklace of the cross… Because she loved Jesus?

CG Religion in Europe is not like in the United States.  People in Europe don't really believe in God. 

Basically saying he didn’t believe in God.

I could have put a placid look on my face, “That’s nice.” #peaceout #earphonesbackin #yay #idonthavetopeopleanymore

However, I DID NOT take the subtle hint that he wasn’t picking up what I was putting down.  I didn’t feel like I was forcing it though- and there is a difference.  Pushers are annoying.  Go to downtown fort worth and see the street preachers grabbing sinners by their collars or Westboro Baptist picket line towards the gays or anyone else they don’t agree with.  #ineffective #wasteoftime #idonotliketowastetime #wehavetobeledbytheSpirit #ledbylove

I mean that should have been a conversation ender but I kept on trucking in the convo with an ever so slight small speed bump with his unbelief.

So I could not believe how bold I got in that moment.  I felt love and concern spurring me on.  Fueled by the fact that this young man may not ever have another moment like this.  If I had gone on to Heaven and one of my children’s children was sitting with a believer,  I would be watching from Heaven begging them DON’T STOP.   PLEASE do not leave until you say what God sent you to say.  To give my future generations a chance no matter how far they had wandered from the path of truth.  Then let them decide.  I could not squander this moment.   Grandma was watching!  

I didn’t beat around the bush.

Me:  Well, sometimes God sends me to people whose relatives have gone on to Heaven and they want their family to know that God is real.  They want them to be in Heaven with them one day.    I felt like I heard something for you.  How God sees you.  Would it be okay if I shared that?

CG:  (awkward pause) Um. Okay.  

( I would have respected his no.  BUT I would have really loved an enthusiastic YES PLEASE. okay would work though) 

I shared the John Wayne/frontiersman/lead the way stuff.  Maybe it’s wishful thinking but he seemed to relate and absorb it.   I continued:

God is real.  I think your Great Grandmother would want you to know that.  He brought her through the Holocaust or you wouldn’t be here sitting with me.

Him:  I don’t know.  I don’t know if He is real.

He sounded like he was searching. Just hadn’t met God for himself.

Me: Thank you for being honest with me.  I’m not trying to push anything on you.  

But He is real.  The proof is hanging right around your neck.

I pointed at his chain. I paused.  It was getting awkward.  Let’s lighten it up.

Me:  Hey, I don’t even know your name.  I’m Jennifer.  

We shook hands.

CG: My name is Jacob or Yakov in my country

Me:  After the Jacob in the bible?

CG:  Really?  This is how little I know about God…I had no idea my name was in the bible.

I told him the story of Jacob being a twin, the younger brother, but being the leader. God chose the second born to lead.  I’m not sure  what this meant to him but it seemed like this story might mean something to him.  Maybe he was a twin?  I don’t know.  The story of Jacob reminded me of the word from God that he was to “lead the way”

I felt a release.  Like I said what needed to be said and now it was up to God to do what only He could do.  Love was delivered.  #gottabounce

I scooted my chair back.  “It’s been a pleasure to talk with you but I have to go now.   Either I'm just some crazy lady you met at an airport or I'm bringing you a really important message.  Keep your eyes open because if they are showing a John Wayne picture on the airplane or you see some confirmation of what I said, then you need to consider that God is real and He’s talking to you, Jacob.”  

Headed to my next flight to end my 12 hr day. As I walked, I talked to God.  Not sure how all that went but to please confirm things for Jacob.  Cover my mistakes.  Let him hear what he needed to hear and send more people to talk about Jesus on Jacob’s path (will you agree with me in that prayer?)  

I put my headphones in.  A song by Mark Schultz cycled on immediately as I walked.  I hadn’t heard it in ages. The song is about someone who had gone on before and wanted to be remembered still.  “I remember you.  Will you remember me?  Remember me in a bible cracked and faded… child of wonder child of God. I remember you. Will you remember me?”  These words sang out into my ears.  A confirmation. 

If we don’t deliver the messages of love and truth, who will? We might be tired.  Tired of “people-ing” We might not get the response that makes us feel warm and fuzzy.  But God calls us to His “people.”  It could be the difference between life and death.   Will you say yes?  Be on the lookout for opportunities and be brave!