As I contemplate on what a faithful witness looks like, I think back to an experience I shared with some girlfriends a few years ago. The five of us gathered in New York City to spend a day together; three from out of town and two from the NYC area, so Grand Central Station was the ideal meeting place. As we greeted one another with hugs, kisses, and quick “how are you,” we noticed a young woman who seemed lost. In our native Spanish language, we engaged in a conversation to learn that where she needed to be was at Penn Station. She was supposed to take a bus to meet her family in Boston, MA.
Together, without any hesitation, my sister, friends, and I knew that directing her to the station was not enough. As women who had all witnessed faithful acts of love and compassion, we, too, wanted to offer Christ’s love through this act.
As we walked her to the bus station, we shared our stories and learned that we had a commonality… our love for God and our faith traditions. Once at the station, we purchased her bus ticket and took her to the gate. With her ticket in hand, some extra cash, a bottle of soda, and snacks, we hugged our new friend farewell with promises of prayers for her and her family.
We went on our way, but our day was truly transformed. I often think of that day, and had it not been because of our faith in a loving God that my sister’s friends and I shared, we would have missed the joy of serving. Through the years, we have been one another’s prayer partners, encouragers, and good listeners. We have shared a love of God and the faithfulness of his promises, which propelled us to be “God’s hands and feet” as best we could on that day. And for the rest of that afternoon, we laughed, walked, or skipped, broke bread together, and continued to share God’s love for one another.
This Lenten season, may you discover ways of faith-filled sharing with someone new that you meet by chance. Perhaps God is inviting you to help someone, too!
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” – Hebrews 13:2
Shared by Sandy Diaz
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