Holy Spirit Adventures

I was about to slide into an empty booth in the bustling food court at the Chicago airport when this guy pushed past me and took my spot. I looked at him sideways with eyebrows raised.

The only other open seat was at a community table. It was the Christmas season. After two flights down for the day, and one more to go, I was “peopled out.” I wanted some space. The airplane is basically one giant community table in the sky. I looked around, but I had no other choice.

I would have one open seat on either side of me for the time being. I studied the kid across the table from my proposed seat. Would he be a “talker?” You learn to sum people up in about 2 seconds on the airplane. He looked like my youngest son and aloof to the world around. Not the talker type. Good to go.

I took my seat across from him and made sure to keep my headphones in. I made a mental note of the gold bling on his neck. The chain was heavy, but the cross that hung on it was delicate. The interesting jewelry spilled out over his

sweater and even his parka. Either he was a rapper, or he loved Jesus.

Was this a divine appointment?

I asked the Lord, “How do you see this young man?”

The words flooded my mind:

• Frontiersman

• John Wayne

• Lead the way

• Independent

• Doesn’t need a lot of anything or anyone

• Lonely

Sigh. I guess God wanted me to “people” again today.

That’s the thing with following the Holy Spirit, there are so many lonely, hurting people who need God’s love. The world is like an overcrowded emergency room with too few people willing to learn the lessons of love. We don’t know how

to love, and we don’t want to follow the Holy Spirit to bring His healing touch.

Bleh. I pulled the earphones out.

Should I say something? Everyone within earshot got up and left. The Holy Spirit had evacuated the area. I felt a God nod!

I started with something we might have in common.

“That’s a nice necklace.”

As the conversation progressed, I learned that the young man was:

A student from Czechoslovakia traveling home

Despite the necklace, not a Jesus lover

He was not, in fact, a rapper

The necklace was a gift from his great grandmother to her grandchildren before she passed away at the ripe old age of ninety. His father had pulled a re-gift and given the cross pendant to him.

The young man then told a fascinating story about the original gift giver.

His great grandmother lived through the Holocaust! She was German, but she married a Czechoslovakian soldier who would be his great grandfather. She was punished for betraying her country by marrying a soldier of the enemy, so the Nazis arrested her. His great grandmother was sent to a concentration camp called Theresienstadt. Miraculously, she lived through it and had the tattooed numbers on her arm to prove her imprisonment. Her husband lived too and this is how the necklace was passed down through the generations.

I said, “So, she was a Christian? Your great grandmother, I mean.”

He responded with his accent, “Maybe. I don’t know. Maybe she was Catholic or something.”

“Well, do you think that’s why she gave your dad the cross… Because she loved Jesus?”

He stuttered, “How do I say this? Religion in Europe is not like the United States. People in Europe don’t really believe in God anymore.”

He was basically saying he didn’t believe in God.

I could have put a placid look on my face, “Hmm that’s interesting,” dropped the subject, and started eating my now cold food.

The Holy Spirit respects people’s boundaries. It is hard to explain, but I have an inner knowing when I have completed an assignment from God. If I have that peace, I can confidently end the conversation. I’ve done my part to plant a seed. God will continue to water it.

I knew in my heart of hearts this assignment was not finished. Something came over me in that moment. I was filled with a Holy Spirit boldness. I knew I had to forge ahead. I felt a sense of urgency. I was fueled by knowing this young man may not ever have another moment like this in his life since he was headed back to Europe.

I envisioned his great grandmother watching on from Heaven begging, Please DON’T STOP, God. PLEASE! Do not let him leave that table. That’s my legacy! As a mother and grandmother, I would want the Holy Spirit to keep pushing the witness to give my future generations a chance to know Jesus. No matter how far they had wandered from the path of truth, I would be begging God to give them one more chance. I would not, could not, squander this moment. Great grandma was watching!

I didn’t beat around the bush. I said, “Well, sometimes, God sends me to people whose relatives have gone on to Heaven, and they want their family to know that God is real. Their generations want them to be in Heaven with them one day. I felt like I heard something for you about how God sees you. Would it be okay if I shared that?”

The blonde-headed boy’s eyes opened big, and then there was an awkward pause. “Um. Okay.”

I would have respected his no, but I would have really loved an enthusiastic,

“YES! PLEASE!”

I shared the John Wayne/frontiersman/lead-the-way stuff. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but he seemed to relate and soak it in like a cool drink of water.

I continued, “God is real. I think your great grandmother would want you to know that. God brought her through the Holocaust, or you wouldn’t be here sitting with me. The Bible says we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.

She is watching right now!”

He said, “I don’t know. I don’t know if God is real.”

He didn’t sound jaded or hardened. He sounded like he was searching. I said, “Well, thank you for being honest with me. I’m not trying to push anything on you, but God is real. The proof is hanging right around your neck. You chose to wear it today. My job sent me to this place today, hundreds of

miles from my home, and here I am, talking to you. It’s not a coincidence.” He looked thoughtful.

I said, “Hey, I don’t even know your name. I’m Jennifer.”

The young man said, “My name is Jacob or Yakov in my country.”

We shook hands.

I said, “Are you named after the Jacob in the Bible?”

Jacob asked, “This is how little I know about God. I had no idea my name was in the Bible.”

I told him the story of Jacob being a twin, the younger brother, but being the leader. God chose the second born to lead. I’m not sure what this meant to him,but he was nodding his head and listening. Maybe he was a twin? I don’t know.

The story of Jacob reminded me of the word from God that this young man was to “lead the way.”

I felt a release. I had completed my assignment from God. Now it was up to God to do what only He could do. Truth was spoken. Love was delivered. The

seed had been planted. Jacob would decide to open his heart or not.

I scooted my chair back. “It’s been a pleasure to talk with you, but I have to go now, Jacob. Remember this, either I’m just some crazy religious lady you met at

an airport, or I’m bringing you a really important message. Keep your eyes open.

If they are showing a John Wayne picture on the airplane or if you see some other confirmation of what I said, or even if you already feel it in your heart, then

you need to consider that God is real, and He is talking to you.”

I headed to my next flight to end the twelve-hour day. As I walked, I talked to God. Instead of feeling drained, I now felt energized. I wasn’t sure how all that went, but I asked God to please confirm things for Jacob, cover my mistakes, let Jacob hear what he needed to hear, and send more people to talk to him about

Jesus. (As you are reading, will you agree with me in that prayer?)

I smiled as I walked and put my headphones in. A song by Mark Schultz came on. I hadn’t heard the song in ages. The lyrics are about someone who has gone on to Heaven and wants to be remembered still. “I remember you. Will you

remember me? Remember me in a Bible cracked and faded… child of wonder, child of God. I remember you. Will you remember me?” These words sang out into my ears. I felt the pleasure of God over me and his love for Jacob, and tears

streamed down my face.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY

If we don’t deliver the messages of love and truth, who will?

We might be too tired. Tired of “people-ing.” We might not get the response that makes us feel warm and fuzzy, but God calls us to His people. We won’t be perfect in our delivery. We may fumble, but God will cover us if we keep a

humble heart. The words you deliver from the heart of God to His beloved could be the difference between life and death, between heaven and hell. Obedience energizes us with God’s power. Will you say yes to God? Be on the lookout for

opportunities and be bold and brave!