Lesson

I went to Square One after work on Thursday. Consider it a mini prayer walk. I was not really there to purchase anything, more to just observe the different sights and sounds of the busy shopping mall. A couple things I noticed, before I did into the heart of the story:

• "Merry Christmas" was one of the rotating messages on the electronic banner of the Christmas Tree in the food court.
• "Don't mess with the Fairies" sign in Green Earth. I was thoroughly disturbed. After which, I prayed against the fairies.
• Saleswomen wear revealing clothing despite the freezing temperature. Again, I was thoroughly disturbed.

So I sat myself on one of those comfy chairs outside of Walmart and decided to read my mini bible. Spend some time in prayer and just prepare my heart for the team meeting later that evening. A chinese man approaches me.

"Are you Christian?" That was an easy question. He then proceeds to tell me that his car has broken down. Granted, a lot of this is in Chinese. But, I surmised that his battery was dead and that he needed a jump. "Mo Deen". :/

At this point, a person would commonly think: Is this person someone that could harm me? With the hype of the media, it would not be difficult to imagine all the horrible things that could happen to someone in a darkened parking lot while their back is turned. I prayed to God. I did not feel a pressing answer in either direction. I looked at the man, and thought "I could take him" (in a fight). So off we went.

We went to the parking lot, and I was asking him "Where is your car?". And he said, oh that it was south on Hurontario. So we took my car and drove down Hurontario. So as we are driving, we are talking. I find out that he is Buddhist. Superb. Since, I don't know where I am driving to I ask him again, "So, where is your car?".

"Oh, it is an impound lot. The guy told me I should wait somewhere warm." My mind, "WHAT!?". "Oh...so where do you want me to take you?" "Home... in Brantford." At which point, I have to tell him that this is not doable. I have a meeting with people, which was the honest truth. I decide to drop him off at Cooksville, where he can take the bus to Union and take a greyhound from there.

I give him money. He originally asks for $20, but that amount balloons as we get closer to cooksville. He offers to pay it back, if I would give him my home address. I did not, telling him to pay it forward. He asks me when the bus will be coming, as I let him off. I told him they come within 20 minutes, which is true for rush hour...I was not sure for that particular instant. I can only hope that it comes for him very quickly.

I have to ask the inevitable question: Was I scammed or was this an actual person in need? I am leaning towards a person who needed help, but was afraid to ask fully outright what they wanted. Sort of like a person who asks for a little with the intention of getting more. This sort of comes more true with the lies and the money stuff. (It is a pretty inefficient scam to get someone to drive you to Brantford, unless you plan to beat him and take his car in the middle of nowhere. Even so, Brantford?)

The more important question is what did God want to teach me out of this? Of the things I was upset about, that I sort of lied to get him out of my car (bus schedule). And that on the way to Cooksville, he was talking about how "god" brought him to me. I was silent. The thing that embarrasses me the most is not that I could have been scammed and lied to, but that I did not say anything about Jesus.