I Am Preparing to Re-enter

I was delightfully ignored by one of my customers one sunny morning as I was delivering my mail route. He is the cranky aged type ... a real killjoy. You know what I am talking about ... the kind of person that is not a kind person. I heard him yelling one day at the paperboy who apparently didn’t get the paper to its precise location which he had told them about “hundreds of times!” I have been scolded by this non-gentleman on occasion for delivering too much "#*@%>#*% junk mail;” he was serious, too. On this particular sunny morning I made my way past him without a peep. He was so busy doing something in his car. His car was parked in the driveway, and he was behaving like a teenager intently hooking up a new stereo, or C.B. radio. Who knows what he was doing? Who cares? Perhaps he is a speeder and just got the latest radar detector. At any rate, I escaped his sneers and foul language for the moment. I joyfully continued my route, up one side of the street and back down the other side wondering why I was not verbally accosted by my “charming” client. I observed that he was still working on that whosamadozel. “What a day…” I thought, providence protected me from an insult today, “…thank you Jesus for the small things in life as well as the rally great things.”

Still noticing this crotchety old man laying down under his dashboard for at least 2 or 3 minutes made me wonder what he was up to. “Is it worth the risk to ask him?” “How would I approach him?” As I pondered these deep philosophical musings, I did not detect any noticeable movement. “Did he get an electrical jolt?” I thought. I became worried and for some unknown reason I felt a sense of urgency. I ran to him. Seeing no tools I asked him if he was OK. Sitting up he said, “I am preparing to re-enter.” Then he slumped over. I had to act fast, “Quick! Call 911!” I shouted with authority into the air. “Lord, give me wisdom!” I cried out loud to the One who is an ever-present help in time of need. Rushing to the nearest neighbor’s house, I threw caution to the wind. Ringing the doorbell and pleading “…call 9-1-1… it's Mr. ---- he needs help. Assured that help was on the way, I returned to my helpless friend. When the EMS arrived and I knew I did all I could do, it was time to get out of the way of these professionals.

A few weeks passed, and my friend got back home. He was very grateful that I got help to him. “Are you the one that found me?” he asked. “Yes sir.” I replied, “Are you alright?” “I am now… thanks to you.” I was humbled. Still I enquired of his expression, “I am preparing to re-enter.” He did not remember uttering those words. I will not soon forget. Every time I have seen him since that day he always had a kind word and even said thank you for the “business mail”. Our paradigm, or our outlook, was dramatically changed, permanently altered. I had a new friend, a new opportunity to speak openly of my God, who gave me the wisdom to get help, who granted wisdom to the EMS team. This is the true God who loves us and wants us to live the abundant life.

I am preparing to re-enter.

Stay Salty...

Brother John