Invitations
The crew sure stood out. There were 4 of them strolling along the roadside in shorts, ragged t-shirts, and an obnoxious bright orange hat. They were most certainly “not from around here” and I knew they needed a lift. If it wasn’t for a large catering order of chicken that needed a timely delivery, 2 hungry boys, and one giant dog in the backseat I would have picked them up.
Like anyone else’s day in the beginnings of Covid shutdowns and school closings my days were different. There were many hats to wear in a day’s time. The advent of virtual learning meant that I was tuned into every assignment. I now have an additional 3rd and 5th grade education. And since my wife was conducting her virtual teaching in the house I was to make sure nothing interrupted her classes. Basically, I was to not embarrass her by doing any of my normal behavior on Zoom.
The boys would usually crush their work because that meant more free time. And more free time was more better! I had quite a few invitations to help with assignments which helped move things along.
In the middle of all of this is that there was work to be done. Being a Dad is important but there’s also a time when I had to fulfill other obligations too. And that’s how a valuable lesson was taught. There’s a big difference between joining your Dad in his work versus asking him to always jump in with your stuff.
After schoolwork I had to deliver food to a hungry warehouse. My assistants had to ride along since virtual high school was being taught in our house. There may have been a bribe of lunch to get them to ride along but for the most part the boys saw a potential adventure unfolding. They accepted an invitation from their Dad.
As we passed the 20-somethings along the road I quipped about picking them up. They were through hikers from the Appalachian Trail; you could tell by their gear and they just had “the look” going on. I suggested we pick them up since we were a good 5 miles from the closest spot to catch the trail. Who wants to walk 5 miles on pavement and then start your hike?
My assistants emphatically said no, mainly because that would be responsible. We had chicken to deliver and they had a lunch to eat. So, I let it ride and did my job; delivering food and feeding my boys. But I knew the story wouldn’t end there.
We retraced our path on our way home and low and behold I saw the bright orange hat and 4 large backpacks wobbling down the sidewalk. I swung the truck into a driveway and asked if they needed a lift to the trail. There were high-fives and “Duuuuude, awesome!” all around. The only problem was that there were 4 of us in the truck, counting the dog, and 4 of them with funky smelling feet and fifty-pound backpacks. The math didn’t add up with passengers and seats.
I have this cool cap on my truck that can be modified a bunch of different ways. With my new passengers I opted to roll the sides up, safari-style and put my only in a Toyota truck back window down. The hikers would have to ride in the bed of the truck, but we could all communicate through the back window and they would have shade and cover. I was mainly going for cover since I wasn’t so sure of the legality of hauling people in the back of a truck. I know it’s not the 1980’s anymore. I was going to just pretend like it was totally normal to cart 2 boys, a dog, and 4 stinky hikers to a trail that covers the eastern United States. Nothing to see here folks!
Once they were in and complementing me with their 20-something vocabulary I asked which part of the trail they wanted to go to and I subtlety suggested the closest spot. Actually, the boys suggested the closest spot because this was not what they had planned for the rest of their day. The hikers all looked at each other and decided to say “Middlesex”. Middlesex! Middlesex is like the furthest spot to take this motley crue and to get there I’d have to either drive through town and a bunch of red lights or drive the interstate. Neither one seemed like a good idea. I was reminded that this whole thing was not a good idea several times by my youngest son as well.
So we drove the backstreets and nearly made to the trail crossing in Middlesex. I say nearly because on our final stretch I spotted a bright orange flash in my mirror and then what appeared to be a pylon sitting in the middle of the road. It wasn’t a pylon at all, rather it was the orange beacon-like hat that our new friend insisted on wearing. And since this was with him every step of the way over the last 1000 miles I had to stop.
I swung the truck over into the right lane, dodged into a convenience store parking lot, and then down an access road to a warehouse. I barely had stopped when our hiker jumped out of the back of the truck and sprinted across a field to fetch his hat.
And that’s when I heard the chirp and saw the lights sitting behind me. Sigh. It seemed as though a truck with 4 dudes riding in the back caught the attention of Mr. Policeman. It didn’t help seeing one of the dudes jump out of the back and sprinting away. It also didn’t help that we were at an exit where human trafficking is a huge issue. It all added up this time!
Sam, my youngest son, sat quietly while I jumped out and walked back to the officer. As it turned out he knew me, and I recognized him. That’s comforting. I guess? But I explained the situation and he kindly explained that he was fine with this as long as I went slowly and didn’t lose any more hats. I also needed to not be seen by his boss, who would most certainly not be thrilled.
Our hiker returned with his stupid orange hat and I walked back to the truck and sat down. That’s when Sam asked, “What did the fuzz say to you this time?”. Haha! The hikers had a really good laugh at that and so did I. Sam has the unique experience of being pulled over twice with his Dad. Both times his Dad was doing something for someone else; just trying to meet a need. Both times Sam got to see firsthand how his father handled the situation. And both times Sam had a new appreciation for policework as well as the costs of meeting the needs around us. He also saw that if you do something illegal you will get pulled over!
So we gingerly pulled onto the main road and made the final 2 miles to the trail without incident. I was sad to see the hikers go but also happy to see them go. I met the need I saw but wow was it taxing and stressful!
The boys had their own agenda for their time that day. Then their Dad invited, or maybe coerced them, to join him with what he had planned. They went along for the ride and got more than they bargained for but an education that couldn’t be possible to attain any other way!
Truth be told I had my own agenda that day too. I had tasks to do! But sometimes things pop up and you have the eyes to see or the ears to hear what to do next. Really it’s an invitation to join God with what He is doing. See the difference? I saw it that day and certainly felt it! How often do we only ask to have God join us in what we are doing? Or perhaps we have a view that we have to do certain things for God…like He is incapable of doing things without us, or we have to earn His favor, or that there’s something to be gained from the world by promoting how Christian we can be!
Being available and aware of what God is doing in your life is answering an invitation to be the hands and feet of God in an area and time that he orchestrates. Sometimes its exactly what we wanted and have planned while other times its far and away different! It can be subtle or it can knock your socks off. It can go viral or be secret. It can be lifechanging for you or lifechanging for someone else…without you knowing!
But answering the invitation isn’t cheap or easy. There a cost to joining in with your Father. You might get pulled over and have to talk to the “fuzz”. It might cost you gas money, time, and two fast food meals. You may have your days schedule blown up in a moments notice or your life might take a turn you never expected! There’s nothing says that joining God will lead to prosperity, likes on social media, or an easy life. Many stop right there because what’s in it for us if we don’t gain something? But there is a sweetness and selflessness to it that is satisfying and full. That peace can’t be bought or fulfilled by anything else. It’s an invitation to a life lived wholly and completely to knowing that God has plans for you on this Earth. Accepting an invitation, no matter how small or large, answers the questions that burn in so many hearts. “What exactly am I here on earth to do?” and “What difference will I make?”.
Your invitation may look different than the world operates. You may be accepted, rejected, or misunderstood. But Jesus said it would be exactly this way. Keep looking, keep listening, and keep answering the invitation!
