Parking & Prayers

By Mike Musgrove

I was driving to work on a cold March morning wondering when spring would arrive, and the COVID response would end. My morning devotions on rejecting anxiety already in my rear view mirror. I pulled into the parking lot, bounced through the potholes, passed a car that looked inhabited and made my turn into my regular parking spot. It was a fairly standard arrival, but God is anything but standard and His plans are rarely predictable.

I got out of the truck, threw on my mask, and grabbed my backpack out of the backseat. I started towards the entrance and then, without much though, changed my trajectory towards the inhabited vehicle. There were two people inside. I approached with caution and confidence, as I did the door opened and a strong looking young man got out of the driver’s seat. He started to speak before I figured out my first words

“Sorry, we are homeless. I just left recovery and I slept here last night. I will be gone soon.”

“You look familiar. I am Mike from SUMS.” By the look on his face, it was clear my local fame had not reached him.

“Johnathan,” he replied.

He proceeded to tell me his story of love, loss, abuse, pain, failure and addiction. “I have been addicted to it all: sex, gambling, working out, drugs…you name it.” He continued, “I have given it up to the LORD again and again, fallen one more time than I have given it up. So here I am”

He started to cry. “I don’t usually (expletive) do this,” he said gesturing to his eyes as he wiped the tears.

“I do,” I said, and I was.

I tried to say something, but everything seemed to fall short from demonstrating I could understand and was far from helpful. Then that stirring came.

Pray for him.

It is COVID. I will have to get too close. I don’t know what to say. He might be infuriated and punch me.

Pray.

My wisdom and words had failed, and I realized that the only thing I had for Jonathan is the call to pray, so I stopped fighting.

“Can I pray for you.”

“Yes…Please!”

I put my hand on his shoulder. I prayed for both of us, I felt the Holy Spirit working, and we cried. There in the parking lot, two sinners saved by God’s Grace.

Jonathan thanked me. I thanked him. We both expressed that God is good.

I told him he could go up to SUMS for some breakfast and they would help him with his next steps.

“I know what I have to do, but I don’t think I am ready. I could use some food though.”

I walked away, believing that there was a path for Jonathan and that, one day, he will be rescued from his pain.

We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28