God Stories

I went for a walk at Portland’s Waterfront Park where I sat down on a bench feeling sorry for myself when somebody sat next to me. I kept my head down in a sulking fashion and acted as if he wasn’t there. Suddenly I hear, “Sure looks like you’re having a bad day.” I responded, “Yes, it’s been a horrible morning.” Then, I looked at the gentlemen next to me. He was wearing secondhand clothing and had an old toolbox on his lap. I also noticed he looked in distress. I said to him, “How’s your day going?” He said, “Terrible. I’m a handyman looking for work, but no one will hire me.”

I asked him what he was going to do. He said, “Today was my last interview and any remaining hope for a job. I have a wife and kids but no money for food or rent. I’m in a bad situation and I have nowhere to turn.” I didn’t know what to say except, “Have you turned to God and asked him for help?” and that question set him off in a loud voice, “don’t preach to me about any of that God stuff! He has done nothing good for me!” I replied, “He can’t help you unless you ask.” Once again, he got defensive.

I decided to take a different approach because I sincerely cared about this poor man’s troubles. I asked him his name and he told me it was Pepe. “Pepe, why don’t you come back to my office as I believe I can help you.” He agreed. I shut the door and closed the blinds for privacy. “Pepe, I’m on the board of an organization called Union Gospel Missions and they help homeless families. They can get your family shelter and place you in a job. Would it be ok if we called Don, the man who runs the shelter?” He agreed.

I got the director of the Christian ministry on the phone; “Don, I have a new friend who has been looking for a job with no luck. He might need some shelter soon for his wife and children, but he most certainly needs a job. He’s a handyman. Can you find my friend Pepe some work?” He said, “Absolutely Ron!” I had Don on the speaker phone when he said, “Pepe, don’t worry. We have food and shelter for you and your family plus I can get you started with a job right away. Stop by the shelter tomorrow and ask for Don.”

After I hung up the phone, I could see Pepe was moved by my efforts to help him. I reached under my desk and grabbed a bunch of Guidepost magazine pamphlets. Guidepost is a Christian based magazine that was started by the late Norman Vincent Peale. I grabbed about ten pamphlets and went through each one quickly with him. I said, “Pepe, God loves you and he wants to help even if you don’t want him right now. Norman is an amazing minister, and he has a plain way of speaking about Jesus that you might enjoy. These are my gifts to you.” I could tell Pepe’s emotions were stirred. Pepe thanked me and left my office with the Guidepost pamphlets and one of my business cards in hand.

The Phone Rang

Lo and Behold, about five minutes later, the phone rang, and it was Pepe. He said, “Ron, I’m right around the corner at a pay booth. I’m calling because I want to tell you something. This morning I was down at that park planning to kill myself as I saw no way out of my troubles. Your kindness today showed me that maybe there is a God. I prayed to him when I left your office.” He choked up and finally said, “I’m calling to tell you that everything is going to be alright. God is going to help get me out of this mess. Thank you for the pamphlets and for being so kind to me.”

After hanging up the phone, I thanked Jesus for putting Pepe and I together. As I prayed, I was overwhelmed with joy and powerfully filled with the Holy Spirit to the point of such intensity that tears just poured down my cheeks. At that exact moment, I understood that Jesus had just taught me the life lesson he preached to his disciples; It is more blessed to give than to receive:

In everything I have pointed out to you that by working diligently in this manner, we ought to assist the weak, being mindful of the words the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said; it is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

In summary, this was one of the most impactful experiences of my entire life. The undeniable presence of the Holy Spirit covering my entire being simply cannot be described in words. The blessing and the teaching that I received from the Lord was worth a million times what I could have made in commissions that day. In fact, the experience was priceless. I believe the Lord had me wake up late that morning because He had an important lesson to teach me; It is more blessed to give than to receive.

When I told this story to my Pastor Kip Jacob, he said, “Ron, you may never hear from Pepe again.” Kip also said that Jesus used me as his instrument to help Pepe while also teaching me a life lesson and rewarding us both in the process. Kip was right. I never heard from Pepe again and Jesus touched both our hearts in a powerful way on that miraculous day. Interacting with me on that glorious day may have saved Pepe’s life on earth but finding Jesus gave Pepe the promise of eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16