The Walker

A few months ago I noticed a man periodically walking in our neighborhood. He appeared to be in his mid-20s and was never in a big hurry. Sometimes he even walked barefoot. I've gotta be honest-it kinda freaked me out at first.

Then I started seeing him every time I left the house. Every single time. All hours of the day and night. He walked. With a blank stare and a somber expression. He walked. And I started to pray for him. 

At first I didn't even know what to pray.  I felt somewhat frightened. And worried. But the more I prayed I began to feel less worried about my safety and more about his. I was so burdened for him. He was noticeably thinner and looked much older than the times I had seen him before. I continued to pray for him. 

And the more I prayed for him the more I saw him. One time I saw him at a busy intersection several miles from our neighborhood. Same blank stare and somber expression. Walking. 

It's been several weeks since I've seen The Walker. I worry and wonder what has happened to him. Call me crazy (and you probably will) but sometimes I wonder if the Lord put him in my path to teach me something about prayer. 

It's easy to pray for my friends and family (and even then I don't pray as often as I should) but how many times do I think about praying for strangers in my community? Pretty much never. 

Lord, thank you for using The Walker to teach me to pray outside of myself. Please keep him safe and draw him to you in the way only you can. Send us all a Walker to remind us to see others through your eyes. In Christ's Holy Name, Amen.