“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

Matthew 25:40 NIV

The People in the Path

Gary hit the breaks as red lights warned of slowing traffic ahead. His response was so well rehearsed that he barely noticed the split second decision and physical accuracy required to guide his vehicle through the tide of bumper to bumper traffic flowing down Interstate 10. He for the past seven years he had followed the same road so responding to traffic took little effort. His mind was free to organize his day even when the Loop crossed the Interstate and a dozen exit ramps tried to unscramble the hundred thousand people around him who were all trying to get to work on time. In the midst of the chaos, Gary used his mind to write memos, plan meetings and considered resolutions without moving from the comfort of his leather-clad bucket seat.

But not today.

Today, Gary was thinking about the sermon Reverend Michael had preached last Sunday; a fact which surprised him greatly. He usually forgot the sermons before the choir finished the dismissal anthem, yet the words of his pastor kept returning like a revolving door. “Go ye therefore into all the world and preach the gospel.”

More than a twinge of guilt settled over his soul as he thought of that long ago night when he stood before a group of fellow teens and told how he had decided to become a missionary and spend his life serving in Burma. But, that was before mission board requirements and oriental politics got all mixed up with college loans coming due. He had never intended to abandon his dedication to spread the good news; it was just that life kept interfering. Before he realized what was happening he was thirty-five with a wife, two kids and a mortgage. He frowned and his bad mood deepened as the radio announced a finder-bender backing up traffic at exit 135. These small mishaps seldom took long to clear, but there were few alternate routs to the office, so he decided to pull off at McDonald’s and grab something to drink. He would be a little late for work, but nothing was to be gained by rushing.

“Would you like to try our new chicken biscuit?” the automated voice advertised in polished tones.

Gary barked his order back at the machine. Why should he have to sit through an advertisement every time he used the drive through? “No, I would not like your biscuit. I want a large Cola.”

“Please pull up to the first window.” A younger and far less professional voice responded.

Jean had been at work since 5 AM. All morning customers had been surly and her boss said she was going to fire her if the register was off again. In a moment the compact car came around the corner. It was occupied by a man dressed in a suit and he handed her a five dollar bill but kept his eyes on the windshield. She carefully counted the change and put it in his hand. “Have a nice day” she said as brightly as possible. The customer grunted and pulled forward as Jean turned her attention back to the register. Her smile faded. If she had to be cheerful in the morning, maybe McDonald’s should make a rule that customers must to not be such jerks.

Traffic was still heavy, but the news said the jam at exit 135 was beginning to clear and the Cola was refreshing so Gary stretched back and continued his guilt trip. He had been sincere about wanting to serve the Lord. Could he help it if life got in the way? Why should he feel guilty? After all, he still attended church. Wasn’t that enough?

He had barely finished the soft drink when the office parking lot came into sight. Selecting a space by the back door, he entered his pass code on a keypad that read American National Bank and got off the elevator on the eleventh floor. Passing the administration personnel he made his way to the office that he shared with Ranjeet.

“Good morning, Gary. Traffic heavy this morning?” The young East Indian’s grin lit up his mahogany skinned face.

“Yeah. Our exit was blocked for a while, but things seem to be moving now.” He settled into his chair and booted the computer. “Anything special going on this morning?”

“Not a lot,” Ranjeet answered in heavily accented English. “For some reason there have been a good many transfers between here and Switzerland. Rio is pretty active, too. Otherwise, it is about as expected.”

His computer screen sprang to life. E-mails. Calendar. Task List. Things were certainly a lot easier since Ranjeet came on board. There would be a meeting of the foreign exchange committee at ten and he might actually have his work caught up before time to go. Gary arranged his desk and opened three files moving the photo of his wife and kids to make room.

Odd. Ranjeet had no pictures on his desk. In fact, there were no personal items at all. Gary wondered if he had a family. Was he a citizen of this country or on a work visa? Normally, he would have invited a coworker to church the first week on the job, but Ranjeet was probably Hindu and wouldn’t be interested. Maybe they would have lunch together someday and he would learn a little more about the stranger sitting ten feet from him. He glanced at his calendar. Lunch could wait.

The day was filled with the normal pressures and problems, but by six he was back on the road headed for suburbia and again the thoughts of his long ago commitment to serve the Lord came back. Resentment swelled. It seemed like those thoughts had been just below the surface waiting for a chance to spring on him unexpectedly the moment he had breathing room. Could he help it if there were no openings in Burma when he applied? What did God expect, anyway?

He thought about stopping by Southern Wind nursing home to see if his Mom needed anything, but the home took good care of her and Ellen would have supper waiting. If Mom needed anything she would have called.

The car effortlessly ate up miles of highway and soon he was pulling into his own drive. “Hi, Honey.” Ellen greeted him as he entered the kitchen. “You’re a little late tonight. Did you stop by to see your Mom?”

“No. I had to make up a little time after being late this morning. Traffic.”

“Hasn’t it been a while since you saw her?” The truth was he had not seen his widowed mother in three months. Guilt began to build again, but he pushed it away by changing the subject.

“Is this today’s mail?” he asked picking up a stack of envelopes from the end of the counter.

“Humm,” Ellen replied as she removed a skillet from the stove. “Nothing important though.”

Gary thumbed through the stack. Three offers for a new credit card. Two bills. A circular from the supermarket. A new edition of Voice of the Martyrs Magazine with a picture of a Chinese prisoner on the cover, and two appeal letters: one from Rural Nigerian Mission asking for money for school supplies and a second from some orphanage somewhere. He pulled out the two bills and dropped the rest in the trash.

“Hey, Dad!” eight year old Philip hugged him around the waist and looked up with a grin of expectation. “Can you and me toss a few balls tonight?”

“Aw, Dad,” Philip began but his mother’s frown warned him not to continue. His Dad would play with him another time. When it was convenient.

It was the third quarter and Spurs were down by five when the telephone rang. Ellen answered on the third ring, spoke a moment, and then handed the receiver to Gary. “It’s the pastor,” she explained with her hand over the microphone. “He wants to know if you could help chaperone the youth on that trip to Mexico in June.”

Gary winced then took the phone. He had already checked the dates when the event was first announced. It was scheduled the same weekend as his vacation and he had promised to take the family somewhere special this year. After fifteen minutes of conversation, he hung up. Genuine disappointed washed over him. Mexico wasn’t Burma, but it would have been a little like being a missionary. At least for a while.

Why did life always have to get in the way of ministry? After all, he was growing older and the opportunities for making a difference in someone’s life were closing every day. With a glum look on his face Gary continued to stare at the television. What did God expect of him, anyway?

Be Encouraged Today!Life is so full of opportunities to touch another life with happiness, that none of us should ever feel unneeded.