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The Highway of Life

"Let me live in my house by the side of the road, by the side of the highway of life. The men who are faint with ardor hope, the men who are griefed with stife. But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears, both parts of an infinite plan. Let me live in my house by the side of the road and be a friend to man." (written by memorization, excuse mistakes)

I've always loved this poem. For years now I've looked at it on a plaque that hangs in our house. I'm not sure when it was written. I'm sure it wasn't written in the past 30 years, or else it would read something like this...

"Let me live in my house that belongs to the bank, that belongs to the bank down the street. Whoever solicits or walks in my yard my shotgun will they meet. Don't cry on my doorstep for money or gas, don't ask to use my phone. I'm happy here all by myself so please just leave me alone. If you knock on my door don't be surprised if I judge you by what I see. For if you are dirty, hungry, or injured you may take advantage of me. If I give you money to help you out you'll just go to the local joint. So I'm not going to help you out, I'm going to prove a point. "Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you" so the Bible does say. But with all the crime in the world, does that still apply to today? Just walk on by my house on the hill if you have grief or strife. If you need help, I'm sorry to say, you're on the wrong highway of life.

After practice last night, Larry read a story about a man who was waiting on the Lord to visit him. He never showed in the form we all expect to see him in. We want an ideal candidate to knock on our doors. Someone who looks like us. Someone who looks trustworthy. In the story, though, the Lord did show. He showed up as a traveler with bruised feet, a hungry woman, and a lost child.

The story convicted my heart. How many times have I turned from someone in need just because they did not meet my standards?

A few months ago when the temps were in the high 90s, my sister and I went shopping at a mall just off of the interstate. At the end of the ramp was an old man with tattered clothes. Beside him was a skinny dog panting from the heat and in front of him was a sign asking for food. His eyes were piercing blue. I know this because while we sat there waiting for the light to turn green, I made eye contact with this man-not because I was staring at him, but the look in his eyes convicted me.

When the light turned we rolled on to the mall and did our shopping. Later as we were leaving, my sister said that we should go and buy this man a big bag of food and water for his dog. I was kind of relieved that I wasn't the only one convicted.

I told her we would ride by the intersection to see if he was still there and if he was we would get him something. As much as I really wanted to do a good deed, in the back of my mind I was hoping that he would be gone. I kept making excuses in my mind of why we should not help him.

The intersection was too busy to pull over. His dog might bite. He's probably the local drunk waiting to make a fool of someone. The excuses went on and on. Imagine how relieved I was when he was gone.

Weeks passed and I still had visions of that man sitting there, almost staring into my heart. You'd have to understand me that when I see someone that looks familiar, I have to boggle my mind on how I know them. Some people have problems with names. I have problems with faces. But his face, his eyes, still "haunt" me.

For weeks I felt guilty. So imagine my surprise when I saw him at a different intersection with a different dog. Again his eyes locked on mine. I was heading to McDonalds to pick up some food for my kids. Money was in the bank. I was not on a time schedule. I was going to help him out this time!

But while I was in the drive-thru, the excuses overtook my thoughts. I was by myself. Again, what if his dog bit me. Is it legal to pull over on the side of a highway to help someone out?

So instead of helping him out, once again, I turned away. When I told a few people about these two "coincidences", they told me what I wanted to hear. They helped to validate my decision.

But can I tell you I still feel guilty.Where is he? Is he warm? Is he still hungry? But the biggest question is WHO is he?

I don't believe in luck. I don't believe in coincidence. I truly believe that people are put around us for a reason. When I saw that man for the first time in the hot temps, I never would have thought that I would still be seeing him in my mind several months later.

So what do I plan to do if I see him again? The right thing. For this man's home is by the side of the highway of life, where grief, strife, and tears are all part of an infinite plan.