It was a
warm November day in rural Piedmont, Alabama. My Vermont family was
coordinating my oldest daughters’ wedding and reception there. The sun was an
hour from setting in the west. It was a long day with some shopping and church
decorating etc. My wife agreed with our five year old son that he (Jonathan) would
be happier back at the hotel or going for a drive “somewhere”. Perhaps, we
thought, he might take a rare nap! So we got in the van and drove out of the
parking lot. As we did, I noticed another old van with a grey haired man
standing nearby with a sign that said “Help…we are out of Gas”. They had a new
looking 2.5 gallon container in their hands. Thoughts went through my mind
like…”Lord, am I too busy for this?” “Lord should I stop?” I did stop. I spoke
to them with a statement of “My wife would not be happy if I picked you up…but
can I get you some gas?” “yes please” the grey haired man said as he put the
tank into the front passenger window. So
I headed south to a gas station. During the drive I wondered things like: I
wonder if he does this all the time? How many people carry a sign in their
car...or the materials to make a sign? Is he really in need? Lord is this you?
Are these the “least of these”? I hate to be “taken advantage of” with any type
of situation. Jonathan had questions to answer as well! “Aaugh! We have to go
back near the church again?” I filled the gas container. I gave them the
benefit of the possible reality of the situation. Wouldn’t I like it if someone
did that for me? How about if I was poor and this is one of the ways to make
it…to keep bread on the table? When we arrived I gave them the full tank. The
grey haired man smiled and said thank you. I noticed that the grey haired man
had two other older people in the van. I believe they were his parents. They as
well smiled and waved. I didn’t wait for any gifts or returns. They knew that I
drove out of the parking lot of the Seventh Day Adventist Church..and I hope
that sent a message that hopefully will gain some interest. My thoughts were
still wondering of Christ’s message of “when you have done it unto the least of
these…you have done it unto me.” Also I thought in some way the “least of
these” was in sitting in the back of my van. I think Jonathan and I learned a
lesson that day. Being a help is faith in action..and there are times when we
go the “extra mile” to those that are in need…or that give you an opportunity
to help them in their situation. An hour
later we found ourselves back at the church gathering the family to get back to
that hotel.
