I saw a man today. Actually, I heard him before I saw him.
That happens when you work on Main Street USA … you hear things. The loud squeal of breaks as a semi stops for the red light. Laughter of the ladies passing by on their way to the dress shop. Not so private phone calls of folks who’ve forgotten there’s only a pane of glass between them and me. An occasional solitary soul conversing loudly with herself. The gregarious shop owner across the street who greets her customers as friends.
Yes, life is noisy on Main Street USA, and for the past nine months, I’ve collected a lot of town secrets. I’m tempted to say I’ve heard it all. At least I thought I had …
Until today. Until he walked by.
He had on a feed sack, cinched at the waist. Long hair tucked haphazardly beneath a toboggan. He carried a megaphone. Greater still, he carried a burden.
“Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
He followed it up with scripture and other words, but it was these that stuck with me.
Quietly I collected the tears in my hands while whispering, “Just like the prophets of old … like John at the Jordan.” Instead of thinking him daft, I thought of him with wonder … with wishing that I could be brave, could stop what I was doing and join him on the road of repentance. To come alongside him in his grief. To cry out for a nation that has clearly lost its way. On his return trip down the opposite side of Main Street USA, I snapped a picture and heard him exclaim to the curious,
“I love my country. I care about what’s happening in our country. Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
And I was broken into pieces for I, too, love my country and deeply feel its fracture tonight.
I don’t know how to fix it; I’m not even certain that I want to take on such burden. But what I do know is that, for a few hours today, my heart was completely willing to trade in my khakis and soft sweater for the scratchiness of sackcloth.
It seems the best course of action for the rancor on Main Street USA this evening.
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.
Surely it won’t be long in coming … the kingdom.
Repentance is our only way forward; it’s the only way home.
May God in his mercy give us enough time to get it right.
Thank you.
His Grace and Mercy never cease to amaze me!! Ditto!!
I feel, or sense, or perceive deeply that we ~ the world, and our nation along with it ~ has passed through a one-way portal. If there is a way back through it at all, it can only be via the route of repentance. His grace amazes me.
For now, I cherish and share your tears; and I thank God that His Kingdom is near.
Even so, Lord Jesus come!
That comment was for you!!
Amen about His grace!!
Thank you, Elaine.
So beautiful! Beautiful to see the true heart that seeks after God’s purposes… and beautifully captured with your words to draw us into what God is STILL doing!!
Oh God is not done! He is calling us to BE BOLD. BE BRAVE. BE COURAGEOUS! Stand strong. This is no time to lie down and die! It is all the more time for us to rise UP and shout, “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.” But it is also a time God is calling us to “get up and work in these last hours to help those in need.”.. and at the same time give out the Good News of Jesus and His love which is our only Hope!! Show His love through acts of kindness, sacrifice, give of our time, and our comforts to do it! It will cost us ‘something’. But it cost Jesus EVERYTHING! Let’s finish well and give Him all we’ve got! Say ‘yes’ to whatever next step He calls us to… by faith! Then let Him open doors that no man can shut, and shut the doors that no man can open! “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!”
Choosing JOY in these last days~
Stephanie
Psalm 126
Stephanie, I so appreciate your input here! Yes, let’s choose JOY in these last days as we continue to follow our Savior’s bidding–whatever that might be. (I included you in my comment to Elaine too!)
God has miraculously intervened for His people a number of times over the centuries. I’m not sure our current situation is going to be another example. Our country is in trouble and many people do not see it. It does feel as though time is running out and the kingdom of heaven is near. I want to draw attention to Jesus and show God’s love in every way possible. With Stephanie above I want to finish well, giving him all I’ve got by saying ‘yes’ to whatever he would have me do next. Thank you, Elaine, for your rallying cry!