Someone emailed me this story and I wanted to share it with you. I am not sure if it is true, but it could be:
“There was a guy on the side of the road hitchhiking on a very dark night and in the middle of a storm. The storm was so strong he could hardly see a few feet ahead of him. Suddenly he saw a car coming toward him and it stopped beside him.
Without thinking, the guy opened the door and got into the back seat. When he closed the door he realized there was nobody behind the wheel! As he considered what to do, the car started moving again.
He looked ahead and saw a curve coming. Scared, he started to pray, begging God for his life. Just before the car hit the curve, a hand appeared through the window and turned the wheel. The guy, paralyzed in terror, watched the hand appear again and again before every curve.
Eventually he saw the lights of a town and gathering his strength, he jumped out of the car and ran into a nearby restaurant. Wet and in shock, he went inside and started telling everybody about the horrible experience he went through. A silence enveloped the room when they realized the guy was serious.
About half an hour later, two guys walked in the same restaurant. They looked around for a table, and then one said to the other, ‘Look John, there is that guy that jumped in the car we were pushing.’”
I got a good laugh from this story, but then I realized that the car being pushed is a lot like the church. We have many people pushing us through the storm along the winding road of life. These people give faithfully and sacrificially of their time, talent, and treasure to help fulfill God’s mission. They are the leaders, the workers, and the supporters that keep our churches going. Thank you all for your efforts.
We also have many people that we have picked up, stranded alongside the road. These are people who are seeking help through a deeper relationship with God and God’s people. They are searching for a place to belong and experience God’s love. They are weary and worn from life’s journey, and the church is where they find help and hope to move forward.
Our mission is to welcome these passengers in our midst without judgment or condemnation. They often have no idea that someone is praying and pushing to help them. Perhaps one day they too will jump out and help others like them.
Through every turn we have God’s hand guiding and empowering us forward. I will see you in church, and remember, God loves us more than we can ever imagine, and I love you too.
Tom
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