Today’s message from pastor Tom was about the impact of Christ’s Holy Spirit on those of us, who are rooted in Him. He brought out how the winds of a hurricane will impact not only the branches and foliage of the tree that we observe swaying and twisting in its otherwise unseen presence, but how the effect can even cause the ground to heave as the trees roots are impacted. A really neat sermon.

So on our way home, taking the same route that we most often would take, the wind of The Holy Spirit at one point gusted with at first just a blast that was quickly felt, and then it subsided. But as we drove off from the light there began a steady gust that was causing the very roots to tighten their grip as the impact within began to move right into our very core, where the roots reached for Christ.

I stopped for the light turning from yellow to red. Then as I sat with the wheel tightly gripped I noticed that the left turn lane beside me was empty, and it remained so (a very unusual occurrence). This was route 41 and Manatee Ave, never a lack of traffic this time of day; but there it was and so it remained.

I said to Ellen, I have to go back as I turned the wheel left and proceeding to the left turn signal still red reaching for my wallet.

I rounded the block. The man that I had first seen was young, maybe early thirties. He was obviously impaired, he had when I first saw him his head and eyes looking not at the cars stopped there at the intersection, but looking to the sky above. Then he began his broken gated walk down the line of cars as the light changed.

I was now back to him. He was now sitting not looking at traffic. I stopped beside him, my window down and put it out to him. He looked up and stood and mouthed for me. Spittle coming from his mouth, he again looked quickly to heaven and said in slurred but understandable words. “Thank you, I prayed, I love you. God bless”, as he made the sign of a heart with his two hands. Ellen said: “the Lord had us come back”; and we both said: “God bless you”. His thankfulness again shook me to the root.

Obviously, many Sundays we had passed this same spot. Many healthy young souls had we passed there. Never before had the winds blown as they had in those past several moments.

Ellen had inquired what was the difference this time? It was not the only time that we had given, but this was obviously different. God was the difference, wasn’t He. We knew it. Pastor Tom’s sermon in action. I am still touched and praying for this young man, whose name I did not even get, but God knows him and He obviously loves him. I have seldom if ever felt so much love for one whom I have never before met. Thank you Father for making this sermon real.