People Need The Lord

Hand in hand Ed and I walked the streets of Seattle and now Vancouver. They are both large ethnically diverse cities with towering buildings, trains and cars, bicycles and walkers. We brushed shoulders with businessmen, attention-drawing women and lost souls begging for a few coins. Dead dull eyes as well as drug ridden eyes all searching and looking for answers. Anything goes! All lifestyles are welcomed. Every color of crazy hair proclaiming individuality. Sirens and gunshot sounds filled the night.

I woke with the old Steve Green song, “People Need The Lord” playing in my head. I’m not fearful, but heartsick for this little peephole of what this 2016 world looks like. Here I sit sheltered in The Victorian Hotel in my fluffy white bed, leaning against piles and piles of feather pillows, listening to beautiful worship music and typing about a real world just a few feet beyond the bay window. In a few minutes I will slip my feet into comfortable shoes, wrap myself in a warm coat and step into this sin- laden world that is in desperate need of the Lord.

Vacation has pushed me out of my little sheltered world into reality of the desperate world beyond my pretty bubble life. Yes, I encounter pain, brokenness, searching eyes, addictions, poverty; but not to the extreme I am seeing here.

I no longer want my comfort life to smother out the cries of the world.

I find myself quickly brushing past the uncomfortable, giving a quick, “No, not today” answer and rushing on with my personal search for adventure and a good vacation. I think more of safety and haste than being salt and light.

As I reminisce of all of yesterday’s experiences, the one that sticks out above all others is the one needy man that grabbed Ed’s heart. We had just finished a fabulous breakfast when he entered the nice restaurant inquiring about the cost of a cup of tea or coffee. He was loud but not obnoxious. The waitress dealt with him with great respect and kindness.

Quietly Ed motioned her to the table and asked that she prepare the man a cup of his preferred tea and toast. He sat at the outside table and as we left he asked, “Are you the one? Are you the one that bought this for me? Thank you so much.” We answered that God gave it to him. He smiled a deeply touched smile and asked if he could give us a blessing also. He proceeded to perfectly quote a beautiful poem. We likewise received our blessing from God.

Lord, I don’t know who we will pass today or who will grab our heart, but I sincerely ask that you give us your ears, your eyes and your heart. Let us be carriers of your light and your love. Allow me to slow down a bit and look into eyes because all people need the Lord.

People Need The Lord – Steve Green

Everyday they pass me by, I can see it in their eyes. Empty people filled with care, Headed who knows where?

On they go through private pain, Living fear to fear. Laughter hides their silent cries, Only Jesus hears.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord. At the end of broken dreams, He’s the open door. People need the Lord, people need the Lord. When will we realize, people need the Lord?

We are called to take His light To a world where wrong seems right. What could be too great a cost For sharing Life with one who’s lost?

Through His love our hearts can feel All the grief they bear. They must hear the Words of Life Only we can share.