I had an unusual experience several years ago. Some college teacher friends and I were attending a school conference in Boston.
We were leaving Chatham on a Sunday morning and we saw a woman on the road hitchhiking. My first thought was to pass her and then I thought she might be in trouble. So since I was driving, I stopped to pick her up before I thought it through. She started running toward our van.
She jumped in and things changed from a quiet and calm conversation among the four of us to chatter and fast talking. This unusual woman announced that she had just left church, and she was on her way to a job interview, but her car had broken down.
Then she began to sing songs about Jesus, and, in between phrases, asked if we were “saved.” We affirmed that we were, and she questioned us about not being in church since it was Sunday. We explained the details of our trip and driving time to Boston, which caused us to miss Sunday morning services.
She didn’t buy that and tried to get us to turn around and go back to her church.
“Where you from?” she asked.
“New Mexico,” one of us said.
“That’s fantastic! My church started in New Mexico! They will recognize you instantly at church!” she exclaimed. I thought this was weird behavior and I was driving so I told her we couldn’t go back — we had a conference to get to.
“Where do you live?” I asked.
“Just keep going,” she replied.
Then she stared singing a hymn and patting the car dash to the beat of the song. In the middle of the hymns, she said that the devil had taken her child, but her faith in Christ had kept her going. She began to question us about the depth of our faith. Once again, I asked her where she lived and she said, “Just keep going.”
After some miles and her unusual banter about subjects that had nothing to do with church or the weather or anything else we could relate to, she suddenly said, “Turn right here.”
As I turned, a dilapidated house came into view.
She said, “This is it! It is worth $225,000!”
She got out, faced our group, and put her hand on the dashboard. She prayed over our van and rebuked all the demons that were riding with us and then disappeared into the house.
Her ways were different. Much of what she said didn’t make any sense. Yet the God of all creation who knows all minds and hearts knew her well.
Am I any more special to God because I think I am in my right mind? Does God view me any differently because I think I am “normal?” Paul wrote, “There is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.” (Romans 10:12)
Am I so insightful and wise? Paul wrote the Corinthians: “For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” (1 Cor. 1:25)
I am sure that God thinks all His creatures have simple minds, for we cannot comprehend the eternal ways of God’s plan. Many times we question, are confused and are puzzled as we try to assess our earthly circumstances.
Yet I am imperfect. I miss the mark every day. Whatever the situation may be, it is a comfort to know that God knows the minds and hearts of His people. Only He can judge with an eternal prospective. That should not only give that woman hope, but me hope as well.
Judy Brandon is a Clovis resident. Contact her at:
cbrandon@plateautel.net
