Bus Ticket

Not too long ago, a few of us were sitting in the café in First Baptist Church Tulsa. We were talking and waiting for a meeting to start, when a young girl walked up to us. She said she was abandoned by her boyfriend and didn’t know what to do.

I walked with her to a corner table and we talked. She said she met the guy and he promised to take her “to see the world,” and she was hungry to see what was out there so she didn’t hesitate and took off with him, even though she'd only known him for a couple weeks.  During the journey she learned that he had a drug addiction, was violent and didn’t have any money.

They got to Tulsa and argued, so he crushed her cell phone and kicked her out of the car. She said she had been sitting in the bus station crying for quite a while. But, when she got up and looked outside she saw First Baptist Church. She said, “My Grandma always told me if you get into trouble, just walk into the nearest church.” 

As we talked she realized she made a terrible mistake by leaving with this guy.  She had never been very far from her home town and she just wanted to see what was out there. She looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, “I just want to go home and start over again.”

I asked her what she wanted to be when she was a little girl and she said, “A singer.” She said people thought she could sing and so did she. I asked her if she ever pursued her dream and she said, “I didn’t think dreams were supposed to come true.”

I shared that God has a plan and a purpose for her life and that once she has a relationship with Him…He can make dreams come true!  We talked some more and we prayed and I walked her to the bus station.

I told her when she knows what God’s plan is if Isaiah 58, In His Service can help, we’d be happy to. She wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me a hug.

Isaiah 58, In His Service bought her a bus ticket home.  The first bus was sold out and the next one was scheduled to leave at 3am.  She said she’d be alright in the bus station and I told her after I did a few things, I would return with some food and sit with her.  We tried to call her Grandma to let her know the young girl was okay and headed home, but no one answered.

I finished what I needed to do, so I went to Quik Trip and loaded up on some food and then headed back to the bus station, it was about 8pm.  I looked around before I went inside and she was nowhere to be found. Initially my heart sank for fear that the boyfriend had shown back up and she conceded to go with him.  But, I prayed against that and went inside.  The same clerk I bought the ticket from was behind the counter.  I asked her about the young girl and she said, “Oh, yeah, honey, she got on the early bus, she’s on her way.”

Praise God!  I went back to my car and called her Grandma and she answered.  I told her who I was and that her granddaughter was on her way to start over.  Grandma was relieved and thankful.

So, what was I to do with the bag of food?  I drove around looking for some of my homeless folks and couldn’t find anybody!  I kept driving and finally I saw one.  He was flying a sign and I drove up and said, “There you are, man I’ve been lookin’ all over for you!”  We talked and I gave him the food and invited him to Luke10 and gave him my card and said if he needs to talk or is ready to make a change…to give me a call.”

The next day I got a message from the young girl. She said she was home safe and sound and had learned her lesson and she was very grateful.

I have no control over outcomes. One of the coolest things our Father does is give us a free will…it is our decision to choose to follow Him.  We can say, “yes,” or “no.” But, as Christ followers we are called to be the hands and feet of Christ.  So, that means being obedient to serve when Jesus calls us into action.

I was at church for a meeting that I wasn’t thrilled about attending.  We were in the café because we were waiting for the start of that meeting.  I could have blown off the meeting and not been in the café.  When she said she was in trouble, I could have gone looking for a church staff member and passed the buck.

 

So here's the lesson...sometimes we do things that we don't really want to do...like attend meetings.  But, I wasn't supposed to be at church for the meeting, I was supposed to be there for this girl. I did make the meeting, by the way!

God could have put someone else there, but for some reason…He asked me to be there.  I am so humbled that He chose me! Look what I was blessed to do!  I got to plant seeds and am praying that they will be watered and the Kingdom will grow.  The first step is to be willing, “Here I am Lord, send me.”

In His service,

deni