Hitchhikers
OOOOOO everyone knows you shouldn't pick up hitchhikers! Right?
Right?
Well, this must be the lesson everyone driving north on I-81 at approximately 8:44am had told to him by his mommy; and when I slung my car out of the raging torrent of the 'burg-morning-rush and patiently waited for this thin gentleman with a cane to approach the passenger side(that's right, I said he was using a cane... for walking...) I wondered why nobody had stopped for him. Maybe 35 years old, he'd obviously been through a lot in his half of an average lifetime. Aside from the cane, he was unhealthily thin, loosing his teeth and quite downcast. He'd been walking for 12 hours.
Turns out, his ex-wife had vowed to get his visitation rights with his 5-year-old daughter taken away. Determined not to let that happen, his life had become a quest to prove to this woman, the courts and his daughter that he loved and cared for his child and was willing to sacrifice everything to be something that so many of today's fathers miserably fail to be: Present.
He'd since made nine trips from from Brandywine West Virginia to New Market Virginia. Sometimes he'd get a ride for part of the trip. More often, he wouldn't, and it's a 50 mile trip. This time, he was hoofing it to a parent/teacher conference that his ex couldn't make it to. She'd taken him to court twice trying to convince the judge that he didn't care about their daughter. The judge looked at him, completely exhausted after walking all night to make the court date... and took his side.
Occasionally I realize how pampered I am. This morning was one of those occasions. I can't imagine having a background like this guy. He did acknowledge that he'd made his share of foolish mistakes... but he'd also had very few advantages (aside from the big three... being a white, american male) He'd since been "Cleaning up," Staying away from the sauce and the smoke... well... the illegal smoke atleast. And going to church "More and more."
This was devotion. This guy didn't have a penny in his pocket. All he cared about was being part of his daughter's life. Unbelievable. We had a good conversation during the 20-minute drive to New Market. I had the opportunity to share Christ with him and though he was hesitant at first, just before we parted he accepted Jesus into his heart. Praise God.
And I sat all day in my air-conditioned office where I work a job that I enjoy, and take home 2 good paychecks a month... and I wondered where he was.
I saw sincerity in his eyes when we said goodbye.
yeah.
Right?
Well, this must be the lesson everyone driving north on I-81 at approximately 8:44am had told to him by his mommy; and when I slung my car out of the raging torrent of the 'burg-morning-rush and patiently waited for this thin gentleman with a cane to approach the passenger side(that's right, I said he was using a cane... for walking...) I wondered why nobody had stopped for him. Maybe 35 years old, he'd obviously been through a lot in his half of an average lifetime. Aside from the cane, he was unhealthily thin, loosing his teeth and quite downcast. He'd been walking for 12 hours.
Turns out, his ex-wife had vowed to get his visitation rights with his 5-year-old daughter taken away. Determined not to let that happen, his life had become a quest to prove to this woman, the courts and his daughter that he loved and cared for his child and was willing to sacrifice everything to be something that so many of today's fathers miserably fail to be: Present.
He'd since made nine trips from from Brandywine West Virginia to New Market Virginia. Sometimes he'd get a ride for part of the trip. More often, he wouldn't, and it's a 50 mile trip. This time, he was hoofing it to a parent/teacher conference that his ex couldn't make it to. She'd taken him to court twice trying to convince the judge that he didn't care about their daughter. The judge looked at him, completely exhausted after walking all night to make the court date... and took his side.
Occasionally I realize how pampered I am. This morning was one of those occasions. I can't imagine having a background like this guy. He did acknowledge that he'd made his share of foolish mistakes... but he'd also had very few advantages (aside from the big three... being a white, american male) He'd since been "Cleaning up," Staying away from the sauce and the smoke... well... the illegal smoke atleast. And going to church "More and more."
This was devotion. This guy didn't have a penny in his pocket. All he cared about was being part of his daughter's life. Unbelievable. We had a good conversation during the 20-minute drive to New Market. I had the opportunity to share Christ with him and though he was hesitant at first, just before we parted he accepted Jesus into his heart. Praise God.
And I sat all day in my air-conditioned office where I work a job that I enjoy, and take home 2 good paychecks a month... and I wondered where he was.
I saw sincerity in his eyes when we said goodbye.
yeah.
posted by Melissa at 2:24 PM
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