A Chance Encounter

It is 1977.  I have recently graduated from Paul Smith’s College in upstate New York with an Associate's Degree in Forestry.  I am back in Philly, living with my mom in Wynnewood.  I miss the Adirondack mountains with their high peaks and vast wilderness.  I recommitted my life to Christ less than a year before.  I am having girl issues, and I want some time alone, to pray and find solitude in God's country, and just get my head straightened out about some things.  I have no car, but I have a bike!  So without training, and without much food or money I go on an overnight bike tour to French Creek State Park, about fifty miles (80 kilometers) away, out toward Amish farm country. I have some good alone time with God.  

The next morning I have to ride back home. I am down to one hardboiled egg for food, almost nothing else to eat, no money, and fifty miles to go.  I have zero energy. I am up early, and I make my way along Route 23, a beautiful two-lane state highway that ribbons through farm country. I stop at a little farm pond to eat my final egg. I sit down in the grass beside the road in front of a house so I can see the view across the street. The house is behind me, and the pond and a pasture with a few cows are before me. I am sitting there eating my last egg, and an old man comes out of the house. He walks up behind me and is saying over and over again, “God bless you, God bless you!”  But he hands me a hot bowl of oatmeal with sliced apple chunks cut in it, saying “God bless you” over and over! It is the weirdest thing. I can't help but think that God has somehow impressed upon this man to feed me, and he is nervous about feeding a young man who is a complete stranger, but he isn’t going to be disobedient to God, either.  

Amazed, I can only thank God.  I open my Bible “randomly” and my eyes fall on Isaiah 41:17

When the poor and needy seek water,

   and there is none,

   and their tongue is parched with thirst,

I the LORD will answer them;

   I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

Right then and there I decide I will never doubt God’s provision for me. How about you?