I missed an opportunity today to be the hands of Jesus. While I was on the boardwalk I noticed an elderly man with a walker resting by the railing. My heart immediately went out to him because it was a very hot day and there was no shady place for him to rest. As I walked past I tried to make eye contact but he did not look up. Finally about 20 feet further down the boardwalk I stopped and told my husband, Neil, we needed to go back and check on that man.
Just as we were turning his way the fellow started off again on his journey so we headed toward home. But tonight, as I thought about the tired and hot elderly man, I was regretful that I didn’t go back and at least buy him a bottle of water and encourage him to sit for a while. I know from my own experience that I have on occasion gotten beyond my physical limits and I would have appreciated a friendly face and assistance.
Weeks ago I promised myself I would be looking for opportunities to do the work of Jesus on Earth and here was a clear opportunity that I let slip by. I am disappointed in myself for missing out and I have asked God to forgive me as I do believe this was an opportunity He presented to me.
The incident reminded me of a story about my own father. My dad was always too proud to accept assistance even when he desperately needed it. We lived on a fairly steep hill and there were cement drainage gutters on the sides of the road next to our house which guided water runoff during heavy rains to grates at the bottom of the hill. My father usually parked his car so that the gutter was under the car with the right side tires on our property and the left side tires on the street. In this position the water could rush underneath the car. But to get to the driver’s side you had to step into the gutter on dry days or over it when it rained.
One afternoon when Dad was in his late 70s and after he had a stroke he was walking out toward the car and fell. Although he did not hurt himself he ended up facing downhill and was lying in the gutter. This would not be an easy recovery maneuver to handle even for someone younger and more agile. As Dad struggled to turn himself around and get up a neighbor was driving by down the hill and he stopped to ask if Dad needed help and my father said, “Oh no, I’ll be fine.” And the man drove off.
Well, I didn’t even ask the gentleman on the boardwalk today, I just went off on my own way. How ridiculous of me to think this man might be too proud for assistance. He very well might have been keen on someone caring enough to check on him even if he didn’t need help. I am so sorry I missed that opportunity and I am pledging to myself not to let it happen again.
God asks us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Had that been in the forefront of my mind and heart I would not have even made it past the man without asking if he could use a hand. That is the person I am working to be in life – someone that sees a need and then addresses it. I would rather bother someone who doesn’t need help than to miss another opportunity to do something good in God’s name.
During the pandemic we were told to intentionally avoid others and I, along with most of you, obeyed. But now I have to work even harder and more diligently to reverse that mindset and intentionally engage with others – especially when others are obviously in need. This was how my Savior Jesus lived His life and this is how He taught me to live mine. To make this change more natural and from my heart I plan to continue to read God’s words daily, to reach out in prayer more often, and to listen to my Lord when He speaks and directs me to take note of someone in need.
It may be that to accomplish this will take my lifetime but I believe I am up to the task because God has told me that “He will never leave or forsake us” on our journey. Knowing that God is with me each step of the way I am seeking to live the rest of my life doing as He instructs and I am looking forward to it with joy.
ED. NOTE: Amy Patsch writes from Ocean City. Email her at writerGoodGod@gmail.com.
