When was the last time that you recognized God to be above anything else in your life? The things you do, the things you consume your mind with, etc?
Think about how your society as a whole acts. Think about everything that is talked about before God is talked about. It's literally everything. The media throws a frenzy over things that seem to matter, but in reality only matter here on earth.
I want you to think about how crazy we go for people who are famous. If I saw LeBron walking through downtown South Bend right now while I am sitting here writing this post, I would get so hype! I would run straight for him and ask him what's up! Actually I probably wouldn't know what to say, but I can imagine what I would feel like and I get excited just thinking about it.
I can't remember the last time I recognized God in such a way that would leave me feeling the way I would if I saw LeBron. How wild is that? I should be saying the opposite!
In Matthew chapter 17, God's voice from a cloud said this to the disciples: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" When the disciples heard this; they fell facedown to the ground terrified. (Matthew 17:5-6)
The disciples heard God's voice and fell facedown. God has done some amazing things in my life. Yet, I can't remember the last time I recognized God in the way that I should've....until tonight.
Honestly, the way I feel right now is the same as those disciples felt. I am blown away by the ways in which God acts...what just happened wasn't just by circumstance. It was God showing his power and how he should be recognized above all else.
So why do I feel this way right now? Today I failed my exam again for the third time. I was really disappointed because I wish I would've passed that crazy thing by now. I got to the parking lot and sat on the curb for about thirty minutes contemplating everything. I was shocked that after a month I was still 0/3.
I knew that this must have happened for a reason...I thought long and hard all day about this. When I got back to the office, everybody was super supportive. This was just what I needed. I didn't want anyone to be upset with me for not passing this exam. I was relieved by their support but I knew there was still another reason why I failed my exam today...
I got to the cafe where I am at right now about two hours ago. This is actually the second one I was at, I needed up leaving the first one...
I opened my journal and there is a space where I write down a question that I would ask God if he was sitting here.
Here is the question I asked today: Did I fail this test for a reason?
I usually don't get answers to all of these questions, but tonight it was answered. While I reading my Bible I felt a tap on my shoulder. A man told me to stop thinking so hard as I was starring off into space.
I said come on man and I laughed. I thought this guy was just someone saying what's up to me in the coffee shop. Mark wasn't just any coffee goer. Mark was homeless.
Mark sat down next to me and him and I started talking. He asked me if I had a dollar to help him buy a chicken sandwich. So I was like sure! I asked him what his name was and he told me that his name was Mark Turner.
Then he started telling me his story. Mark applied for a job up here in South Bend and the company accepted his application and he was all set to work. He took the greyhound to South Bend from Fort Wayne on Friday. When he arrived at the job they told him that in order to work he had to have a place of residence. He had brought all his stuff with him so now Mark is a couple days homeless.
My heart felt for this man, his boldness to approach me and talk to me stood out. He was kind, considerate and polite. He asked me a little bit about my story and where I am currently living and I told him about my wonderful host parents. His face lit up. Mark thought that this was the best thing ever. We talked about how much better the world would be if everybody was loving and compassionate. We both could only wish for a world like that.
He told me how he wish he had some host parents like I did. He decided that he was going to call me his host brother. It was a great feeling to be called a brother from a man I had just met.
Mark and I sat down and spoke with each other for about 25 minutes and it was a lot of fun getting to know him. When Mark and I said goodbye to each other I felt like I should buy him some food. When we were talking a worker brought out a flatbread to another customer and I wish you could've seen Mark's eyes light up. He thought the flatbread looked like the best thing ever.
About two minutes after he left, I felt like I should buy him that flatbread I could tell he wanted. I quickly ran after him and I told him I would buy him a flatbread and anything else that he wanted. He wanted that flatbread and another sandwich for latter so I got that for him. He was so excited.
I told the worker the food was for Mark and I went back to writing my blog post. About 5 minutes later, another tap on my shoulder. It was Mark again. He said, "my brother, you have to try this flatbread, it's just what I needed."
Here is Mark. He is homeless and he is offering me the food I just got for him. I was blown away by this. So I went over and sat by him on the couch and we enjoyed the flatbread together. He kept telling me about how tonight was just what he needed and to see the joy on his face meant more than any feeling.
We parted with a hug and he said "see you later host brother."
When I think about what just happened tonight, it makes me recognize God for being above all. Only God could've orchestrated something like this. I really can't put into words how crazy it was for me to go to a coffee shop, then go to a different one, ask God if I failed my test for a reason...open up my bible and feel convicted for not recognizing God like the disciples did by falling facedown...Mark taps me on the shoulder...I come to the realization that I would not be in here if I would have passed my test earlier...and this all...and then I am absolutely in awe when I realized that the reason I failed my test today was to meet a new friend...Mark Turner.
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