The Everyday People: the guy from the middle east...

This writing is inspired by a guy I met yesterday, from the middle east. Somehow, the numerical probability for Jaycee to experience a different encounter with a brand new day is pretty high. I cannot tell you if it is because I have an adventurous streak, or if it is merely due to my curiosity of life. Just like my weirdo tag illustrates, it could be an encounter between my stilettos and the leaves or the grass, or just observing the dynamics of birds flying across the sky...but more importantly, it could be an encounter with an inspiring unexpected stranger. I met a stranger yesterday who made me thirst for something more...

~~He was from the middle east~~

A captivating confident Middle east man. He was gray-haired, but his hair was partially covered with a base-ball cap. He sat at the bus stop, while clinging to a big black briefcase. I walked into the bus stop zone and proceeded to sit at the edge of three other people waiting for the same bus. He was at the extreme end of the seat. A boisterous woman walked towards us, and the gray-haired man stood up and said, "please have a seat ma'am." She smiled and gladly filled the space. He smiled back and said, "I have an extra seat for myself," and then he brought his briefcase beside me and sat on it. At this point I was wondering why he was all so excited. His day must be going well, I thought, giggling to myself. Then he began speaking to me. There must have been something on my forehead that screamed "pls approach me, I'm very approachable."

He asked me where I was from. "Ethiopia?" (I get that all the time). And I told him I was from around there (didn't want to disclose any information, in case there was anyone at the bus stop ready to shoot a 419 Naija babe). "Is English your first language?" I said yes. "Do you speak any other languages?" I said I spoke a little French (taking pride in all the French courses I was required to take at my university). That's how he bursted into French-speaking mode. "Je parle Francais aussi!!! Blah blah blah" I managed to blurt out a silly response, "Je parle Francais non beaucoup." Lolll. Not too much French, I was trying to say. I was beginning to feel like Tobenna when he sat beside an old man on his 7-hr flight to Dubai.

He inspired me. I listened and I sat there in awe. He was from a country between Turkey and Istanbul (he told me the name, but I cannot pronounce it...neither can I spell it). I have never heard of it in my entire twenty-somn years. He told me that he spoke 9 languages and taught people from 57 different countries around the world. I told him that I would love to know many languages some day. He said he started out by borrowing a Spanish book from the library (250 pages) and memorizing every tiny detail. Then he would leave his car at a parking lot, take the train to work and look for some Spanish people to practice with. By this time, I was swooning in mere admiration for his zeal.

He told me about his trips to China. He told me that he took frequent trips in his quest to learn Chinese. Then he spoke some Chinese to me (Ching chwan hooo) and I giggled. Then he decided to reveal his true passion and I became lost for words. He said, "I did all these things so that I can spread the love of the Lord Jesus Christ." I was flabbergasted. He ignited a new passion within me and I smiled in delight at his words. He made me want to spread more of God's love abroad.

I asked him what career he chose when he was younger, before he started travelling around. He replied and said, "well, I was in a university at England, studying for medicine. I was 25 years old at the time. One day, I heard God's voice saying "I want you." I told God that of course He could have me any time. I would just finish medical school, become a medical doctor, and send most of my money for missions...helping the poor, far and wide. Then I heard God saying clearly again, "No, it is YOU I want."" That was how he left everything he had plans for and started learning languages to spread God's word. Along the way he got married and had kids, but I love the statement he made at the end..."my kids are all grown up now, they don't need my money. I plan on selling my home and building an orphanage in China."

This is the story of an average man at the bus stop. I'm sharing this to say that I see God in many different ways. He's the Master planner. Sometimes I wonder why I have to use the bus, but there is time for everything. Like Esther, who knows whether I was placed in the kingdom for such a time as this? This man showed me that you can change lives in simple ways. You can meet someone on the train looking depressed, but after speaking with them their joy will be restored. God showed me His love for abandoning 99 sheep just to search for that one lost person.

Are you that lost person? God is calling you out today. You don't have to remain where you are. You do not have to wallow in endless pity. You cannot find any genuine love from human beings, unless inspired by God. God LOVES you!!! He loves you so much that it hurts Him when you're hurting. His arms are outstretched to that one person that needs Him. My thirst has been renewed, and my soul pants for more. More of His love...