“There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens”

Ecclesiastes 3: 1

During my freshman year at North Central University, it was impossible for me to get a job.  Not even McDonald’s wanted me. I called my Pastor to tell him about my problems.

He asked, “What are you telling them?”  

“Everything”

“Are they asking you for this info?” 

I proudly said, “No, I am just being honest.” 

He said, “Well stop it. If they don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Later, I went in to see the school’s job counselor and I explained how I worked with the homeless in NYC, while also following my pastor’s advice.  As I was leaving his office, the counselor came chasing me, saying a shelter just called looking for someone to work for them. It was a divine appointment.

It ended up being my place of employment for the next 5 years. Through that job, I obtained many amazing experiences and life lessons. One in particular was when I was working at the Drake, which was the men’s shelter at the time.  There was all kind of characters there.

One was a young man who worked as a pimp.

He would get frustrated with m­­e, as part of my job was to ask their names before giving them a key to the room.  He kept saying, “Come on now, you know my name.” 

I had the same reply, “It’s my job.”

Well one day he got tired of me asking his name and he went off on me, screaming, “You know my name! I’m going to slice you from ear to ear!”

I hadn’t been saved that long, and most of that was involved in a ministry. My finger went up, ready to make a point. I was ready to slice and dice!

However, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Love is not rude.” I shut my mouth and brought down my finger. I said nothing.  Minneapolis Police told him to leave the premises and I had not seen or heard from him for years. 

In time, I graduated NCU and I was involved in a church plant near the school. On a certain afternoon, I got a call from a man needing food. I asked him his name and he told me.  I knew it was that same man.  You never forget the name of someone who threatens to slice you from ear to ear.

He asked me my name and I guess you don’t forget the name of the person you threaten to cut from ear to ear.

He said, “You’re not the Monica. . .”

I interrupted and said, “Yes, please come get your food.”  By the time he got there, he was a mess. Weeping, he said he couldn’t believe I would still help him out. I then preceded to lead him to the Lord.

That story stuck with me because I always wondered, if I had said what I wanted to at the Drake, how different would that day years later have gone?  God is so amazing; he had a plan for this man’s life, which would manifest over years. It makes me even more God conscious.

How embarrassed I would have been if I had sliced and diced.  You never know what God has planned. However, you can know that you are a part of it, for someone’s salvation. 

Dear, Lord,

Help us to be God conscious in all our endeavors. Let our eyes and ears be alert to what you are doing through every situation. Let us not fall into the snares of the enemy.

Amen