Miracle in the Parking Lot

*Names in this story have been changed to protect the innocent.

Recently, after one of my daughter's volleyball games, there was a gentleman wandering around the parking lot, speaking to people as they headed to their cars. He wasn't a parent, and his clothes looked a little rumpled. I approached one of the other parents to speak for just a second, and when I turned to go to my car, the gentleman was between me and my car on the other side of the parking lot. I looked back at my friend, "Mary", and she said, "Get in, and I'll give you a ride to your car."

As we got to my car, the gentleman came to my friend's door, and she rolled down her window and asked him what he was doing. He said he was trying to get enough money to pay for one night in a local motel. He was wearing a crucifix around his neck, kind of like a Catholic Rosary. My friend commented on his crucifix and asked if he believes in Jesus, and he said that he talked to Him all the time. His eyes weren't shifting back and forth like the eyes of panhandlers I've seen. There was a genuineness in his eyes, and he made eye contact. My friend asked the man his name, and he said his name was "John". We talked with John for a few minutes, and my friend asked him some questions to try to figure out his story.

John is 60 years old and has no family. He was released from prison 12 days ago, and has been homeless since his release. He said the first night, he considered going back to the prison, knocking on the door and asking if he could stay one more night. (How heartbreaking is that?!) A pastor paid for him to stay in a room at the Motel 6 for two nights, six nights ago. He was trying to get up enough money to pay for a room at the Motel 6 for one night so he could take a bath. (He knew the exact amount of the room with tax). He was worried about smelling bad. He is desperately trying to do the right thing and stay on the straight and narrow. John doesn't drink, doesn't do drugs, and is looking for a job, but it is hard to get a job without a home address. He is living in a park. The employees at the nearby Waffle House let him wash his shirt in the bathroom sink and hang it out back to dry.

Mary knows some folks that work at a local homeless shelter that provides for the basic needs of folks who find themselves without a place to live. She asked John if he had been there, and he said yes, he had been there a few days ago and they had no room. My friend told John that we believe that God will work something out, and she made a few phone calls.

As it turned out, the night attendant could find a spot for John, but couldn't promise anything beyond one night. They also couldn't pick him up; he'd have to find a way to them, all the way across town. John's eyes lit up with hope at the idea of food and shelter for the night, and Mary gave him the information he needed. John said someone at the nearby barber shop would probably drive him out to the homeless shelter. He said he could wait for him at the service station around the corner. I told him we'd be praying for him, and he bowed his head and put his hand on the top of my Mary's door. We both held his hand, and Mary prayed over this gentleman. He quietly prayed along with her, and when we said, "Amen," he looked up at us with grateful eyes, and said, "Bless you both."

As he walked away, Mary and I wondered aloud if John was "the least of these" and discussed the issue of prisoners being released with nowhere to go. It was just heartbreaking to see this man who really wanted to live right, but the resources just weren't there. I thank God for the ministry of the homeless shelters that provide a ray of hope to people like this. It is often the only hope they have in this cruel, hard world. And when you have nothing at all, hope is a glorious thing!

On my way home, I passed the service station around the corner, and John was standing at the curb like he was waiting for someone. I said another prayer that God would provide the resources he needed to stay on the straight and narrow.

Every time I think of John, I say a prayer for him, wherever he is. But for the grace of God, there go I.

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" Matthew 25:40

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Matthew 25:45