Here’s what I hate: weird errands.
So, I’ve already blogged once about how much a love Instagram. Well, one of the people I follow on Instagram is named Josh. Josh Johnson. He began the uber-famous hashtag #jj. In the Instagram world, you tag your pictures with that in order to get them seen by a larger audience.
Anyway, Josh Johnson is kind of a big deal on Instagram. A semi-celebrity of sorts. I had seen a post of his a while back asking a question about God. I saw a response of his that said he had been raised Christian, but aligned himself more with Buddhism now. Then, this last week, I saw a post of his that said he was just outside of Nashville. “How cool!” I thought. Just like I think it’s cool that I can run into Country music stars around town. BUT, then, I saw that he was coming here to check himself into a mental-wellness facility because he’s been struggling with depression. “Poor guy.” I thought.
Then, God told me to go visit him.
Ummm, no thanks God, I have stuff to do this week. I mean, I think JJ is great and all, but I really don’t feel the need to go visit a perfect stranger just because he happens to be approximately 2 hours away. That’s not actually that close you know. Plus, I’m going to look like a total crazy stalker or something. I really don’t think I heard you right God, so I’m just gonna make my plans for the week, kay? Thanks.
Then, the chapter in my Bible Study was on obedience. Really God? Do I have to drive to Bowling Green? I absolutely dislike driving….especially by myself. Plus, I really need to clean my house and I was going to clean out my closet and give loads of clothes to the poor and blog about it. (Seriously, I’m still going to do that.)
Then, I heard a verse on the radio: Leviticus 19:16 “…do not stand idly by while your friend’s life is threatened.” Okay, Okay, so maybe cleaning out my closet is not as important as the soul of a living being. So, God won and I prepared to drive to see a complete stranger who was trying to get a few weeks of peace and quiet so that he could feel better. The thing is, I felt like I know something that would make him feel better. BUT, what if they didn’t let me see him? That’s a thought. What then God??
So, I wrote him a letter. Then, I found out on Instagram that he was going to stay two additional weeks. Hey, that means that I could just mail the stinkin’ letter! No boring drive by myself! Great idea!
Nope.
God wanted that letter hand-delivered today. So, I wrote a letter pouring my heart out, trying to give him all the encouragement and love that I felt God wanted me to convey to him. I tried to sound as sane as possible.
This morning, I got dressed. What does one wear for a random errand to a recovery center in the woods? Yoga pants of course. Black shirt, and my new gray scarf. Yep, black and gray. I didn’t have to dress like sunshine to bring a little sunshine, did I? After my yoga class, I gassed up the Volvo and headed out towards Bowling Green.
The last few days have been gray and overcast. But, on the drive to see Josh Johnson, the sun came out and I started getting really excited. Then, I got really nervous. Then I got really excited.
Approximately 5 turns off highway 65, and way, WAY down some country road, I finally found it—the recovery center. I found a parking spot in the wooded “parking lot” and got out of the car. Looking around, I felt like I was in a Sandra Bullock movie. It was very serene and picturesque, but I felt like a goofball. What was I going to say!? Hi, I’m here to visit Josh Johnson. No, I’m not a crazy stalker. God just told me to come give him some encouragement. I was pretty sure that they might try to check me into the center to make sure I wasn’t mentally unstable.
That was a chance I had to take. I crunched through the brown leaves under my feet and padded up the wood steps to what looked like an office door. I went in. No one was there. Then, I heard a voice. “Hello?” She called from a back office.
“Hello.” I answered tentatively, moving towards the voice.
I peeked my head in a door. The woman leaned over her desk. “May I help you?”
I tried to act natural.
“I’m here to visit someone.” I said, smiling, like it was totally normal.
“Was this previously arranged?” She asked.
It was arrange by God, I thought to myself. “No.” I answered.
“Well, I’m sorry, we can’t have visits that were not approved ahead of time by the counselors.”
“That’s okay. May I leave a note?” I asked.
“Sure,” she complied, handing me a legal pad and pen.
Instead, I whipped out my four-page typed letter written the night before.
“Oh, I already wrote one.” I said glibly handing her the envelope.
She looked at the name on the envelope. I thought I saw a look of recognition flit across her face.
“I’ll make sure he gets it.” She said sweetly.
“Thank you.” I smiled.
Then, I hurried out to my car lest they try to check me in.
So, that was that.
That was my day—a glorified mail carrier who just wasted a little over 3 hours of her life driving to see someone she wasn’t allowed to see.
But, hopefully, a message made it into the hands of a man who God loves enough to send a mom in the middle of her week on the off-chance she might get to deliver a letter. Scratch that—it’s a message from a God who loves enough to send His son to die for Josh Johnson so that a relationship can begin anew.
I pray that Josh’s heart is open to receive that message of true love and restoration.
I have no idea if I’ll ever know what comes of my crazy drive and the 4 page letter, but today…
Today, I’m happy to be God's mail girl.
UPDATE: MARCH 2012
Back in January, when I posted this, I thought that the Lord sent me on that errand for Josh Johnson. A few weeks later, I found out that God also wanted me to go on that errand to encourage Josh's mom, Brenda. Below is the sweet email she sent to me after she read my blog post. I am thankful that the Lord gave me this update on why He sent me there. I hope you will continue to join me in praying for Josh.
Dearest Elizabeth,
I want to tell you how much your story meant to me. I have prayed for Josh since he was a baby that he would have a true relatioship with the Lord He is my first born and we are particularly close My mothers heart always [aches] for him. I pray that God will give him an experience that someone will reach him because nothing seems to help Honestly I am always in crisis mode with the Lord because nothing changes. He never seems to answer my prayers. And then I read your incredible story of driving in obedience to God telling you to go to tell Josh He loves him. That was God telling me He loves me and that he heard my prayers (and hundreds of other peoples we have solicited) It is a story of true courage Elizabeth. I have a dynamic testimony God spoke to me in a bathroom 40 years ago and I was eventually converted lead my husband to the Lord We became ministers I was a chaplain for 17 years, Josh has always wondered at our story and respected us but has a very hard time with the exclusiveness of Christianity He once said "if I could just have Your experience Mom how different my life would have been." Well I think having a complete stranger drive two hours to deliver a message from God is an experience. I have pointed that out to him. Josh is an incredibly gifted, sensitive, open guy who I guess was burned by being a pastors kid or something.
Anyway what you did was wonderful Elizabeth From the bottom of my heart I thank you. I have asked Josh to reflect on what you did and what it means about Gods love for him. Continue to pray and again thank you
Brenda Johnson
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