Labor Days

Last week as I returned to the town of my first church to do a funeral, I was reminded of a story that a member there told me.  Vernie, the church member, was in Houston visiting a granddaughter in a hospital in the Medical Center.  She had been severely injured in an accident.  After a long, anxious day Vernie and some of the family were driving out of the parking garage to go home for a little rest. 

This was back in the day when there was an actual person in a booth that you paid as you exited the garage.  The attendant was an older African American man with a pleasant disposition.  Vernie told me these details of what this man did because they made such a deep impression on him.  After receiving Vernie's ticket and cash payment the attendant looked behind Vernie, there was not another car in sight.  The attendant held on to Vernie's change and asked, "How are your loved ones this evening?"  Vernie briefly told his story and the attendant listened and asked questions about his granddaughter, including her name and condition.  Then he asked, "Would it be OK if I said a word of prayer for her and for all of you."  Of course, Vernie agreed. 

After the prayer, which brought Vernie and his family to tears, the attendant asked if Vernie had a relationship with Jesus and Vernie said yes, they were all Christians.  Then the attendant handed him his change, shook his hand and told them he would be praying for all of them.

It made a deep impression on Vernie and on me.  I cannot imagine a job with less potential in being a witness for Christ than a parking lot attended, sitting in a booth in the middle of the night.  Yet here, this man found a way to turn it into a ministry.  Vernie also told me that his granddaughter was being treated by the some of the best doctors in the country, but no one made them feel better in that hospital than the parking lot attendant.

I am sure that man was replaced by a machine in that parking lot.  But where ever he his now, I know a man with that kind of dedication has found a way to make his job a ministry.  Our challenge this Labor Day weekend, is to "go and do likewise."

For the journey...

Tim