He
didn't know why. It was just one of those things you're moved to
start doing, hoping noone will ask you, “What's if for?”
White-haired Noah had begun taking notes about Bob's lessons dealing
with little computer parts and the simple-to-understand story
parables he made with each one.
Noah
sat at his kitchen table, finishing the last few sips of his morning
coffee, still wishing his sweetheart was in the other chair always
ready with short Bible promises that warmed the heart and soul more
than the cup of coffee and muffin. He lightly fingered the edges of
the pages of those lesson notes. It was almost more than he could do,
to hold back from asking the empty chair what he was saving the
lesson notes for. But he knew what he'd hear as Nenee's voice would
happily tell her husband, “Noah! Another Noah took 120 years to
build a boat with no oars and no motor! Stick to God's timing...
God's timing.” It was her loving way of saying, “Prayer always
makes patience less painful.”
The
cup and saucer were placed in the sink just as the telephone rang. In
fairness to older folks like Noah, the phone should have flashed a
warning, “Be warned! This phone call is going to change your life,
like you can't imagine... God is at work, and you're in the middle.”
The
phone caller said, “Hey Noah! How ya doin' man?! This is Bob
Button. You probably recognize my voice. I've got a question for ya.
Have ya got a minute?” Noah's heart wanted to blurt out, 'Ya, I got
a whole day full of unused minutes, and I don't like it.' Instead,
Noah said, “Bob – for you, I've always got time. What's up?”
“Noah,
thanks for that. Well, I got a call about an hour ago from Ben.
That's the teen with the orange hair and super baggy pants. He asked
a favor of me, and I've just spent the last hour in prayer about it,
before I called you. Ben told me about a special friend of his, about
his same age. Now Ben is pretty sure his friend Sam is saved. Sam's
given name is Samson Tiffin.” Bob continued, “Well anyway, Ben
said his friend Sam was not very good getting around groups. Ben
didn't give all the details about the boiling water scalding that
disfigured Sam's face.”
Noah
spoke into the phone, “I'm listening, Bob. Is there some way I can
help?” In a pleased tone, Bob said, “Noah. I'm glad you said
that, because that's why I'm calling. I want you to ask God about
this, but I'd like for you to call me day after tomorrow and let me
know if you can help. OK?” “Now Bob. I don't need any two days to
talk this out with God. I've already been pleading with Him to let me
help with the teens. I'm sure that Sam is part of His answer. Um,
Bob. Can I call you tomorrow and see what plans you have for me to
hook up with Samson... I mean Sam? Right now I'm ready to prance
around my kitchen, like a kid unwrapping his most favorite present.
I'll call you about 3 tomorrow. Is that OK?” Confirmation was made
and the phone call ended.
Noah
did a minute or two clapping and prancing around the kitchen. But he
knew what he must do next. He knelt down at his dear-departed wife's
rocker on the front porch and thanked the Lord for meeting his need
for service by bringing a needy teen into his life. Almost like
stepping into Nenee's ministry with teens, Noah seated himself in her
'teen-helpin' front porch rocker and stared at the forest nearby.
In
his mind, he envisioned a teen named 'Sam' was lost and distressed in
that woods, and God was splitting a clear path through that forest
for Noah to follow by faith. His expectant heart asked if this was
the way God's people felt as they saw the Red Sea open up for them to
follow God's will to His uncountable promises? Noah assured himself
there would be hungry bears and briers along the way. But that's
nothing when a teen's life of hopelessness and out-cries for someone
to care, can be heard, and led home to the love and safety of God's
open arms.
