


“How long have you been in the area? Where did you grow up?” Sojourner asks the man as the server brings the coffee. The man took a sip and after a brief pause, he responds, “I’ve been here for about 6 months.”
“Where were you before?”
Sojourner’s mind wanders a bit as he recalled stories of his grandfather. Sojourner’s grandfather often talked about Topeka. The railroad that grandfather worked on would often pass through Topeka. Sojourner took the pocket watch from his pocket and gently tapped the nickel plated back of the watch. He remembered grandfather looking at this same watch each time a train passed. He would always say, “right on time” with a proud smile on his face. The Santa Fe’ route was one grandfather often worked and he always made sure to get out and talk to the townspeople of Topeka.
“I came here for a fresh start.” The words spoken by the man cause Sojourner to come back into the present moment. “My life just fell apart.”
“Do you have family?” Sojourner inquires. He knew the importance of affiliation, of close, natural relationships. He wanted to get to know the man better and see how he could help.
“My wife left with our son and daughter a couple of years ago.” His voice cracked as he spoke those words. The lump in his throat from trying to hold back the pain gave him reason to take another sip of his coffee. “My life spiraled out of control after that [LINK TO RESOURCE PAGE]. Everything I thought I was working so hard for came crumbling. When she left, I found it harder to wake up in the mornings. I struggled to make it into work on time. Eventually I lost my job. I was in debt. I lost the house. I lost it all
Sojourner knew the pain all too well. Not only had he heard similar stories, but he had also experienced his own trials and hardships. He took off his newsie hat and held it near his chest. The hat belonged to his father. His father would often wear it to keep the sun out of his eyes as he worked the family farm. It was a tough time for farming as it was just near the end of what is commonly referred to as the Great Depression. The details were different, but Sojourner recalled how lost his father felt when his mother left. Life seemed to crumble and everything fell apart.
Sojourner sighed deeply as he put the newsie hat back on his head. “I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll be praying for your children and their mom.”
“Pray? I haven’t done that in such a long time.” The man said matter-of-factly as he took another sip of his coffee. “I’m not sure how much good it would do. The big guy doesn’t seem to care what I have to say lately.”
Sojourner smiled an understanding smile as he replied, “I’m sure those feelings are real. I’m also sure that you should give it a try. He does care.” Sojourner took the watch from his pocket and looked once more at the time. “I’ve seen you here a few times before. Would it be okay if we had coffee again sometime? I would like to hear more of your story.”
The man smiled, “I’d like that. I don’t get to have many conversations with people. They usually turn the other way to avoid eye contact.”
“Well, I see you… and God sees you and I hope to see you again.”
Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites.
The Holy Spirit is our only consistently accurate guide for all things in our life. He will take us on a journey that is filled with adventure, passion and blessing. That is if we will trust in Him. He is our leader and our friend. Listen to His voice, do what He says and things will go better for you. The Holy Spirit does not always offer a life of comfort. Remember that the Holy Spirit is the one that drove Jesus into the desert for forty days of fasting and prayer. Do not glamorize that event. That was difficult. Jesus was obedient to the leading though it was uncomfortable. From time to time, the Holy Spirit will do the same for you. One of the things that the Holy Spirit focuses on is to get you in the right frame of mind, in the right place at the right time. Trust in His guidance. His leadership will not always make sense, look beyond logic. Remember that His ways are not our ways. His ways are always better. Surrender to Him today.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Matthew 5:22-26
Peace. I offer you peace. But peace does not happen accidentally. It requires effort. Our natural bent is to put it off because it is simply too painful, to uncomfortable to engage in the conversations needed. “Settle matters quickly.” We make excuses as to why we should wait.
We avoid healthy conflict, but no face mask can prevent the damage that can be done through this practice. Research shows us that avoiding the conflict leads to a whole host of physical health issues. Families are destroyed because we don’t address the issues that are in our faces. Our minds become warped by our thoughts of revenge. But the most damaging is to our spirit.
Remember we were designed for a perfect life in the garden. Peace should be surrounding us. Contentment is in our wiring. However, sin came in and broke that peace. Our sin was a declaration of war against God. When we live in conflict with our brothers and sisters we are in conflict with God.
How often have I been in church, nursing a grudge? I feel angry and embittered over some slight real or imagined. In the darkness of my mind I have contemplated evil against my enemy, maybe even while I am there in church. While you are at the altar. While I am worshipping and recognize this anger welling up within me, I must go make things right.
Make peace. Sometimes you will be wronged, forgive anyway. Go make things right and then return to church and worship in Spirit and in Truth.
GRM offers a webinar on Restoring Peace where you can learn to become a peacemaker. Peacemaker is a role that our world needs today more than ever.