A few days ago riding my bike on the Parkway, I ‘bumped into’ Vernel. I know his name but nothing else about him. In fact I have wondered of he might in fact be an angel.
He reminds me of James Stewart’s guardian angel Clarence in It’s A Wonderful Life, but Vernel is a more bubbly, bouncy, cheerful black version😀
Our exchanges have been brief, with him enthusiastically reciting the praises of Jesus always ending in the bestowing of a blessing. His parting shot the other day stuck with me,
‘God’s favor be upon you.’
As I later drove all the way down to the south of the city I discovered the office I was going to was shut. Turning around I set about my second errand, then realized that the doors there too would still be closed! Not much apparent ‘favor’ thus far, …….well not as far as I could tell.
I pulled off the highway realizing I could buy those things at another store.
As I walked through its door……there he was, grinning from ear to ear as he spotted me!
It was a brother I hadn’t seen for years but who we had met when he was at an all time low point in his life. He had attended a Freedom! Retreat and things began turning around. He was reunited to his estranged wife and shortly afterwards they conceived. Sadly they hit another bump in the road and separated.
He was eager to tell me about the ‘favor’ that had followed him since that time.
“ I have become a citizen, bought an apartment, and love my job here, and look……” He said pulling up a photo to proudly show off his beautiful maturing daughter. ‘Her mother and I are co-parenting very well.’ he happily reported.
‘Ah’ I said. ‘We were meant to meet this morning.’ and told him the story of Vernel…. and God’s favor😀
A few days later I met Vernel again on the Parkway. This time I didn’t dismount, but ‘high fived’ him as I rode past.
“How’s it going? He shouted after me.
“Couldn’t be better’ I shouted back.
Then realized as I pushed up the hill how true that spontaneous response was and how the ‘high fives’ signaled the double grace and favor that is multiplied toward all of us each and every day…. whether the journey seems uphill or downhill and whether the door is closed or open.😀
Let’s keep it Real with Vernel.
P.S. We have another Freedom! retreat coming up next week end, Friday 15th, Saturday 16th. Would love for you to pray for it….or attend🙂 paulkyle.org/events