Wal-Mart Encounter

I had an experience outside of Wal-Mart that I’m not sure how to categorize. I had just left my Local Church Leader’s Workshop and still had my suit on. My wife had called, and I was picking up juice and milk for the house. Feeling a tad overdressed, I walked out the door bags in hand. There I was confronted with a young man holding a jar. I couldn’t really make out what it said, and then he said something I barely understood. He was asking for donations for a needy family. I couldn’t help but think he might be more needy than any family he was collecting for, but he also said he was part of a local church in the town. So, I pulled out a few dollars and put them in the jar. He said, “Are you a lawyer?” At this point, I hesitated, thinking a simple no might suffice, but still said, “Nope, I’m a preacher.”

At this, the young man said, “All right! Well then, I have a scripture for you.” He said, “Malachi 2:7,” and proceeded to quote this verse from the King James Version, “For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.” I said, “Thank you,” and started to walk away, but he continued, “Wait a second, I’ve got another one for you.” He then quoted verbatim from Isaiah 55:10-11, “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

He then said, “Well preacher, you must have another job.” I must have looked confused because he went on, “You know, you have to have something you do to support your ministry.” I thought about my suit again as I told him, “No, I’m a full-time preacher,” to which he replied, “You are sold-out to God, AMEN!” I wondered if he was right as I left and he gave me these parting words, “God bless you man-of-God, God bless you!” And you know what? God did bless me. I thought I was going to minister to this guy, but he astounded me with his memory for Scripture and his passion for my vocation. I’ve had a renewed passion lately too, but I think I could use a little more of what this guy outside of Wal-Mart had. Just think, I could’ve passed myself off as a lawyer, saved a few bucks, and missed out on a special, strange, even sacred, experience.