Who is Pat, you ask? I met Pat today. I was on my way home from a couple of meetings and decided that I would stop and pick up a take and bake pizza from Papa Murphy’s. As an aside, we’ve never picked up Papa Murphy’s before and I highly recommend it if you’ve never tried their pizzas.
Anyway, back to Pat. While my pizza was being put together, Pat walked in. I hate to admit it, but I wasn’t very friendly. I didn’t really greet Pat or take notice of him. I assumed he was just another customer. But I had that feeling that I was being watched. And I also thought that I might need to tell him I wasn’t in line. So, I looked over to say something and my eyes met two eyes head on. He was staring at me and his eyes didn’t communicate anything at all – they were lifeless, but intent and boring into me.
I then heard him speak, but his words were somewhat mumbled and I wasn’t sure what he said. The conversation went like this.
Do you hababollaahkinhab fordid luck….
What?
I then noticed that his breath smelled strongly of alchohol. And really began to notice that he looked and smelled like he might be homeless. He had a shaved head except the bottom part which was a bit like a fuzzy mullet, but, in fact, looked better than a typical mullet. He was carrying a red duffel, with a couple of zippers on it that had seen cleaner days. Our conversation continued and he spoke more clearly. He had a purpose.
Do you have a dollar for a guy down on his luck i can have? [snickering heard from the other guy who walked in after Pat]
I do have a dollar. What do you need it for?
I’m hungry.
I would love to get you some food but a dollar won’t go very far in here.
there’s a Wendy’s across the street.
True. I’d be happy to take you across to Wendy’s and buy you something with a dollar.
Do you have a credit card or something?
I have a dollar in my pocket.
Oh. Cool. Do you have a car?
Yes.
Could you give me a lift?
Yes. Where you going?
Just down somewhere near the interstate – like down by the mall.
Sure, I’ll give you lift down to the mall.
Great.
What’s your name?
Pat.
I’m Bryan. Good to meet you, Pat. [Wow, you have a firm handshake.]
So, we were all set, but I was still waiting for my pizza and he continued speaking. I won’t continue quoting the conversation because what then proceeded from his mouth was R-rated as he told me he had just come from a “sex shop.” I’m not sure why he volunteered this information, but he told me all about what he had been seeing. I asked him why he was spending time in such a place and he said, honestly, because he “wanted to see some *&*$ and )*$$.” At this point I noticed the expression on the store employee’s face and felt the presence of the other guy in the shop quite strongly. Nevertheless, I felt God’s presence more strongly saying, “don’t reject him; love him.”
So, my pizza was ready and we went out to the car. Then began the ten minute ride where the real feeding began. I spoke God’s word and love to him the entire way, through questions and discussion. I spoke Jesus. He was open about his drive for meth, girls, alchohol, and the like and I told him that he could let those things drive him or he could find true satisfaction in Jesus. As we discussed why he was finding comfort in pornography, he said if he could just find a wife all would be better. I said he didn’t need a wife; he needed Jesus. He was a great captive audience.
Once we arrived at the mall area I realized I had a bag full of snacks left over from our drive from Houston to Fayetteville, so I gave them to Pat. I gave him the two juice boxes, too. We joked about it being like soemthing you’d have when you were elementary school. (My wife later joked that Pat got Jesus and Cheez-Its when I told her the story.) As we shook (and held) hands and eye contact before departing, I told him I loved him and that Jesus loved him more than he could ever imagine. I have no idea what all was happening in his heart or in the heavenlies, but I am writing all of this only to ask everyone who reads it to pray for Pat.
Pray that his eyes would be enlightened by the love of God. Pray that God would bring more Jesus followers across his path to love him and be light for him to demonstrate that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Pray for Pat. Please. That’s what my entire family did when I got home with the pizza, even my 9-, 7-, and 4-year old. Please pray with us. Pat’s life depends on it.
