On my journey to know God more intimately I am working on spending the day in ongoing conversation with Him. This morning I said, “I’m not getting out of bed until you say something to me”. My tone was not demanding, but rather playful. I knew He would understand.

I waited in silence for quite a long time and then He whispered, “I have a surprise planned for you today”.

I got up quickly and set my mind to watch for the surprise. I knew one would come and I didn’t want to miss it.

At the same time, I went through the normal routine of daily living. One of my tasks for my current guest status is to take the dog for a walk through the streets of a mobile home park.

As we walked my eyes were captivated by a lady coming towards me carrying a satchel of papers. I had seen her in this park before but not recently. She seemed glad to see me and I opened with, “I haven’t seen you for quite a while”.

“No”, she replied. She then went on to tell me that her husband was in medical ICU and she was struggling to manage the paper work that would keep his insurance active.

This lady is from another country and English is her second language. I know, from my own experience, that Medicare forms and Insurance papers are a nightmare for anyone. I sensed this was doubly hard for her as she lamented that she has no family here and no one to help her.

As I listened I learned that she was under a time deadline to get some papers notarized. One option that was presented to her was free but she would need to transport her husband to the office of this notary. This, of course, is impossible as the husband has a tracheotomy and is on a ventilator. The other option is for it to be done by a notary in the hospital but this would cost $40.

She looked at me with body language of sadness and confusion not knowing how a hospital could deny care and how it could be that there was no one to help her.

I asked again wanting to be sure I understood. “So, you need $40 in order to complete the paper work for your husband to be eligible for services and you don’t have $40?”

“No, she said, “I am waiting for my Social Security check but it will be too late”.

Knowing I had a $50 bill in my purse that what was wondering what to do with itself, I put my hand on this lady’s shoulder and turned the whole story over to Jesus.

Undeterred by her objections, I asked her to hold the leash and I would bring her the money.

She gratefully accepted and wanted to know how to thank me. I said, “Just thank Jesus”.

She thanked Jesus and she thanked me, too. She wanted my name and address so she can send me a card.

As we then walked separate ways, she to the bus stop and me on my dog walk, I recognized that I had just had an encounter with Jesus.

He smiled and said this was my surprise.

My heart leapt with joy.

I had encountered Jesus on the street.