You Never Know Who - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

You Never Know Who

by Steve Martin

“In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, He brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life.” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16 The Message)

Every weekday for the past two years I’d arrive at the office building elevators around 6:40 am. The security person sitting at the front desk would give a quick greeting, and I’d greet them back, hit the “Up” button for the elevator,  and ride to the 16^th floor above Tryon Street in Charlotte’s center city (uptown area). I didn’t think much about it in greeting them. I try to at least say hi to people as I walk by.

Near the end of 2013, a new guy on the 3^rd shift was at the front desk. He said he started at 10 pm and left at 7 am each morning, Tuesday through Friday. My guess he was 65 years or more in age. With his black rimmed glasses, color coordinated nicely with his short, gray beard, along with his matching gray hair and honest face, he reminded me of a good grandpa. As I got to know him in the following months, he was - a good grandpa to his eight year old granddaughter in town.

Mike and I would often talk about the weather, what was happening uptown that week, being that was what I had going while working with Charlotte Center City Partners, and of course, books. He would let me know what he was reading, and then I started telling him what I was writing. In time I helped add to his library, giving him copies of the first two books I had authored and published, Ahava Love Letters and The Promise.

In time, he started asking me questions about messages I had written in the Ahava Love Letters. I was glad to share further on my beliefs, the Lord’s work in my life, and the path we each had gone on in our lives up to this point. We got to know each other a little bit more as we talked each day.

In late February of 2014 he surprised me, when I stopped again for a brief conversation.  

That day he asked, “How long do you expect to be here?”

I was a bit surprised, as I hadn’t said anything to him about my future plans. My response, “As long as the Lord has me on assignment here.” And then I asked him, “Why do you ask?”

“Well, in your book it seems that you are not expecting this job to be where you will retire.”

“No, it is not,” I said. “In fact, when I left my previous job as USA Director of Vision For Israel in July of 2010, to start our own ministry, that was what I had expected to be doing the rest of my life. And I only went back to an accounting job to pay the monthly bills, as the newborn ministry got on its feet. I am here until I have completed this assignment the Lord has me on also.”

“And what is that?” he slowly asked.

“To pay the bills,” I repeated, “but more importantly to affect the lives of the people I work with here,” I stated.

“Well”, he again spoke, more slowly than before, “when you came in for work the other day, I was going to say something to you further, but you went up the elevator faster than I was hoping. I wanted to tell you that, as in most lives, there are ups and downs (as he made the motion with his hand of a straight line going up at a 90 degree angle, and then brought his hand back down at a 90 degree angle), and then there are times in your life when there are hills and valleys (moving his right hand up and down, forming curves you’d associate as in an air drawing of hills and valleys.) Sometimes you meet people that touch your life at the top of the hill. You are one of those persons in my life.”

Wow, I thought to myself, and before I looked too surprised, I said, “Thank you Mike. That is very nice of you.”

Before I started stammering further over my words, totally not expecting this from him, I quickly added, “When you get done with reading my book you have now, let me know. I will give you the next one.”

He said, “Yes.”

So I walked over to the elevators, and again hit the button to go to the 16^th floor. As my body was rising up, my spirit was rising too. Delighted to have imparted a piece of the Lord’s heart to Mike, I continued the upward journey.

“Thank you Lord” were the words I spoke to Him.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People. Inc.

Uptown Charlotte - being a light.

(Photo by Steve Martin)

  

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Now Think On This #121 “You Never Know Who”   by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (02.20.14) Thursday at 8:00 am in Charlotte, NC).

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and our newest website: Ahava Love Letters