I never pick up hitchhikers. Too dangerous. I’m usually always in the car by myself and its dangerous being a woman and picking up strangers. This particular day last November, as I was going home for lunch on my lunch hour, I drove past a female hitchhiker and thought to myself “I can’t (pick her up) I’m in a hurry”. I thought this was a strange thing to think since I never consider picking up hitchhikers in the first place.
About a half hour later I was leaving my neighborhood and in the least likely place was a most unlikely hitchhiker, again. This was an elderly man, sixty five-ish or so. Well dressed, lambskin coat, poppy on the lapel, clean cut. I have lived here over 3 years and have never seen a hitchhiker here before. It’s a country road.
At this stop sign where I was turning, where this man was, the moment I saw him, I thought he would probably be safe enough to pick up, but I was on my way back to work and knew my boss would not be the least bit impressed if I was late coming back from lunch. So, I made eye contact with the man and shrugged “I don’t have time”. He shrugged back “Oh, well.”
As I drove away I was convicted in the spirit. I sensed the Holy Spirit say to me something like “I just gave you an opportunity to bless someone and build MY Kingdom, but you chose to put another man’s kingdom first.” I didn’t feel good about this and it was a matter of prayer the rest of the day. I didn’t want to be ‘all about the Kingdom of God’ but let my works show otherwise, but that’s exactly what happened.
On my way home again after work I asked God for another hitchhiker so I could redeem myself. He said “You have already been redeemed.” In other words, what could you do to redeem yourself that I haven’t already done for you? (Now I was a little embarrassed that I asked.) This wasn’t about ‘self-redemption’, or ‘self improvement’. This was about Christ. It’s always about Christ.
Funny thing. That happened in November. I haven’t seen a hitchhiker since. (Granted it’s been the dead of winter, but still…)
