DINNER AT Cracker Barrel
In December 2018, my wife Vi and I were seated at Cracker Barrel right in front of the fireplace. I was looking directly into the fireplace. Not long after we ordered, a young man came in unsteady on his feet and his lady friend was holding his elbow to steady him. He sat down at the table next to me and she got up and went to the restroom. He put his arms on the table and laid his head in his arms. After that I only looked over once and saw he had finished ½ of his fried chicken dinner. There was no discussion going on at that table. Vi & I were talking about our doctor’s appointments and family.
After they finished dinner, his friend got up to pay the check, so that she would be free to help him on the way out. Vi and I were talking about the grand kids, when he leaned over, and said, “Tell me about the book you just mentioned.” We both told him we were not talking about any book. He said, “Yes you were, I heard you.” As he was saying this, his helper about the same age, late 30’s came back from paying the check. She had that “OH, NO” he is talking to someone look on her face.
I then told him I wrote a book. He asked, “What was it about?” Not wanting to get into it, I told him it was a Christian book on self-reflection. I thought that would end the conversation. He then said, “Tell me about it.” So, I told him the Holy Spirit gave me the answer to a question that a friend had asked of me, “How can I get to know Christ better?” The question took me by surprise. I told my friend, I had to think about it. He got up and let me alone for about 15 minutes, while I prayed to the Holy Spirit. Then I started drawing circles. I briefly went over what each circle represented.
My friend, had no need for further discussion, after I explained what each circle represented. He knew where he was and what he had to do. I also found out where I was and what I needed to do to get to know Christ better.
The young man at Cracker Barrel asked if the book was published. I said, “Yes, it is on Amazon.” He asked what the name of the book was. I told him, “On My Way.” He asked his friend to take down the name, but I had a card with the name on it. He told his friend to put it in her bag. He then said, “You are good people. Give me a hug.” As he stood up his friend reached out to steady him. We hugged. He then said, “I am an alcoholic and I am not ashamed to tell you that. I lost a good job at a fortune 500 company because of it, but I am going to beat it.” He then gave Vi a hug. He then said again, you are good people and Vi said, “That is because God loves us and helps us when we call on him. He loves you too and will help you if you call on Him.” He said, “Do you think so? Do you really think so?” “Yes,” she said. Then he had a look of hope and joy on his face, a huge contrast from when he came in with his head in his arms on the table. When we sat down again, I saw his care giver, who never said a word, was misty eyed. When we got up to leave he said, “You are really good people. Give me ANOTHER HUG!”
There are 5 elements I want you to take away from this story:
He heard the Spirit talk to him about the book. The Spirit used the book to start the conversation. By that same Spirit you may hear things today, that were not even said.
You now have a basic idea of what the book is about, a road map to get to know Christ better. You will discover where you are within the circles and decide where you want to be.
Despite his brokenness, he acknowledged who he was. He was in a state of grace because someone was praying for him, someone who could not get through to him but depended upon God to intercede. Your prayers for someone may be answered in God’s way and time.
The reason the Spirit initiated the conversation about the book was for the young man to hear that God loved him and will help him.
God loves you too. He will be there for you, if you call on Him...