JonB_in_Glencoe
07-31-2016, 10:41 AM
I am almost too embarrassed to tell this story :oops:, but maybe if I bare my soul, I'll more likely not do this again. Also, I didn't even put this together til I read Boaz's post about a stranger...and while this is something totally different than his post, His subject line was all it took to remind me of this stranger I ignored.
If you seen my post in "our town" about my recent bout with heat exhaustion, You'll know I've been under the weather for most of this week, I didn't go through all the details there, but the flu like symtoms finally subsided yesterday morning. It all started Tuesday, a very hot day, I wanted/needed to get many outdoor chores done. The last one, was emptying my rain barrels, by hauling 5 gallon buckets to my fruit trees, many of which are in the boulevard (next to the street).
This last chore was an arduous one and I was really feeling it before I even started. I just wanted to "push through" and get it done. I should have taken a break, but I figured if I did, I would have just quit for the day.
With that mind set, right after I hauled the first 2 buckets, I see a young fellow (teenager) walking a dog. He is a ways off down the street, but we make eye contact. I continue with my chores. As I hauled the next two buckets, he started walking toward me. I continued with another couple of buckets as he walks up to my trees.
He spoke to me in broken english, "Water?".
I say, "Yes, I'm watering the trees"
He said, "water to drink?"
I tried to explain, that this rain water is probably not potable, but he obviously doesn't understand.
So, I say, "no, this is for the trees"
He looked a bit sad, then he continued walking down the street.
I should have taken a break, and offered him some good water, I myself drink filtered tap water that I had ready to go, in a pitcher in the Kitchen, heck I have bottled water in the frig that I could have offered him ...but that involved stopping and probably taking a break and maybe sharing a conversation with this stranger...I had options. What did I do? I pushed through with my chores worrying they wouldn't get done, if I stopped for a break ...and essentially I ignored this stranger.
In hindsight, maybe? just maybe, if I did take a break and share some water with this stranger, I may have avoided heat exhaustion, maybe not? but who knows? I know I shouldn't look at it like this, but it's surely obvious our actions and inactions can have consequences.
I Believe in Jesus Christ and I should have served that stranger as Christ would have, as He has directed us to.
I don't really know how to end this story...I guess to ask for prayers, to help me become a better person...to make us all be better.
If you seen my post in "our town" about my recent bout with heat exhaustion, You'll know I've been under the weather for most of this week, I didn't go through all the details there, but the flu like symtoms finally subsided yesterday morning. It all started Tuesday, a very hot day, I wanted/needed to get many outdoor chores done. The last one, was emptying my rain barrels, by hauling 5 gallon buckets to my fruit trees, many of which are in the boulevard (next to the street).
This last chore was an arduous one and I was really feeling it before I even started. I just wanted to "push through" and get it done. I should have taken a break, but I figured if I did, I would have just quit for the day.
With that mind set, right after I hauled the first 2 buckets, I see a young fellow (teenager) walking a dog. He is a ways off down the street, but we make eye contact. I continue with my chores. As I hauled the next two buckets, he started walking toward me. I continued with another couple of buckets as he walks up to my trees.
He spoke to me in broken english, "Water?".
I say, "Yes, I'm watering the trees"
He said, "water to drink?"
I tried to explain, that this rain water is probably not potable, but he obviously doesn't understand.
So, I say, "no, this is for the trees"
He looked a bit sad, then he continued walking down the street.
I should have taken a break, and offered him some good water, I myself drink filtered tap water that I had ready to go, in a pitcher in the Kitchen, heck I have bottled water in the frig that I could have offered him ...but that involved stopping and probably taking a break and maybe sharing a conversation with this stranger...I had options. What did I do? I pushed through with my chores worrying they wouldn't get done, if I stopped for a break ...and essentially I ignored this stranger.
In hindsight, maybe? just maybe, if I did take a break and share some water with this stranger, I may have avoided heat exhaustion, maybe not? but who knows? I know I shouldn't look at it like this, but it's surely obvious our actions and inactions can have consequences.
I Believe in Jesus Christ and I should have served that stranger as Christ would have, as He has directed us to.
I don't really know how to end this story...I guess to ask for prayers, to help me become a better person...to make us all be better.