A very dear friend of mine had an encounter with a man named Ray. Ray is walking across america carrying a cross. Below is the encounter my friend had with Ray. It is one of the most beautiful stories I have come a across. What if we all took up our cross like Ray.

I met Ray.
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Yesterday at 4:35pm
MY agenda was to go buy a faucet...God's agenda was a little different. As I drove by with my thoughts trailing somewhere between the kids, the new move and dinner, I was jolted out of my daze to see a man walking down the street with a very large cross on his shoulder. My first thought was, "What in the world?". My next thought was, "I should really stop and talk to him"...and then came, "no...how stupid...he'll probably attack you or you'll cause some accident by stopping here...or, or, or...how weird, anyway!" I went on with my day, completing my Costco agenda and moving quickly to thoughts of Home Depot. As I hopped back into my car, I made a b-line for store. But, wait...I MUST have some Carl's Jr. deep fried zucchinni...so I took a detour. And who, do you suppose, was lugging his rickety cross right in front of Carl's? OK, now my thoughts went like this..."Dang-it...I know I need to stop and talk to him but my husband will probably kill me (or at least be really worried)...gotta do it anyway". After hopping out of the car and tracking him down before he got too far, I found out his name is Ray. I invited him to share a meal with me. After a few awkward moments, we settled into a nice conversation. Ray is a full-time homeless guy for the Lord. Since 1989, Ray has traveled amongst 26 different states. His goal? To let everyone and anyone know that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world...waiting for it to respond. Gazing at his sparse hair, etched face, and stubby, weather-worn hands it was obvious that he had no agenda to impress. His face (and the room) lit up as he bore a toothless grin. "It's all the Lord", he said over and over. I asked him what it was like out in America with his cross. He said it was "disturbing". Why? Because no one seems to care. He'd rather be "spit at and shot at" than "just ignored". "Sometimes I'll go weeks and not talk to anyone. At least when he's shot at he knows the cross is making a difference (by the way, he has been spit at, shot at, and nearly run down). I learned some interesting facts like he's been married for 24 years, has no kids, and has been "rescued" from a life of drugs. After going to the Roman Catholic church as a child, converting to the Baptist church with a friend (and, subsequently, being estranged from his family for it), and entering Seminary, Ray became disillusioned with God and entered a life of sin. Then he was hit by a car, follwed by a truck, and spent a year in the hospital and was told he would never walk normally. While in rehab, he met his wife whom he talked about the bible with. She became a Christian and led him back to the Lord. Though he has the education to be a pastor, he's far more comfortable "under the bridges" with those who really want to hear the truth. I laughed as Ray shared a story about a pastor who tried to give him a gun for self-protection. "What kind of a headline would that make?" he chuckled, "'Homeless, Christian Guy Shoots to Kill in a Hold-Up'...that's not what it's about". There is no doubt in his mind that he's doing what he's been called to...no worries...the bail-out plan means nothing to him. I found myself longing for such simplicity...to know without doubt, that what I'm doing and where I'm going next is for the Lord. To care about nothing more that caring about the unsaved. "They need to know about Jesus", he communicated over and over.As we said our "good-bye's" I couldn't help but wonder where he was off to next. Without a doubt, it was off to where God would send him. If you see Ray, stop and say "Hi"...or at least give him a hond (or spit at him, if you're so inclined)...but don't just ignore him. My life is better for having met him.:) Sarah