I met a man named Woodrow, and I can’t get him off of my mind. Here it is Wednesday and I am still thinking about him.
I walked in the door of the church where David preached Sunday morning, he was preaching for our friend Tommy who was in the hospital earlier in the week. It’s a very sweet church and everyone is very friendly, so it isn’t unusual to walk in and have someone greet you with a smile and a handshake that you know they really mean. I was blessed as I watched a woman enter whose son had died tragically this past week and when the women in the vestibule saw her they surrounded her and “did life” with her. They wept with her, hugged her neck, encouraged and prayed for her right there. I overheard her say something like “I couldn’t not come and worship with my church family today”.
That interlude was enough to bless me and to tell you the truth I could have gone home right then. I was blessed to watch the body do what the body is supposed to do, Love God with all their heart, soul and mind and love their neighbor as themselves. As it got closer to time for Sunday School to start more people arrived and they were asking Carol how their pastor was doing, was there anything they could do to help out? etc. In the midst of their concern for Carol and Tommy they didn’t overlook me standing there, they greeted me and engaged in conversation with me. Tommy and Carol have done well teaching and training their church how to truly love God by loving people.
I was thinking about the circumstances which had brought us to this particular place on this Sunday morning and was thanking God for all Carol and Tommy had invested in us in both ministry and friendship when I was suddenly aware of someone speaking to me. His voice is what drew me out of my fog, but it was his smile that drew me to his heart.
He stood before me with a smile the size of Texas and he said “Hi, I am Woodrow”. I replied “Hi Woodrow I am BJ” as I reached out my hand to shake his. Woodrow’s hand went right past mine as he wrapped his arms around me and gave me a huge bear hug, all the while he was smiling and his eyes were sparkling. It wasn’t a lengthy encounter, in fact as soon as he gave me that great big hug he was off to greet someone else who had caught his eye. It wasn’t too long after Woodrow parted that I realized he was a thief, you see Woodrow in the twinkle of an eye had stolen my heart. I still can’t get him off of my mind.
What I didn’t tell you about Woodrow is that he is about 60, he only comes up to my shoulder, has large ears and the cutest face on which he keeps that huge smile. Woodrow has special needs; some may even say he is “simple”. Except for that brief engagement I don’t know much about Woodrow personally, other than he lived with his parents until they passed away. At that time someone (I don’t know who) became his caretaker but they were unable to care for him anymore and he now lives in a home with others who have special needs. His caretaker takes him to their house every weekend and brings him to church on Sunday, Woodrow’s favorite day of the week.
Although small in stature in my eyes he is a spiritual giant who is living out God’s plan and purpose for his life with everything he’s got. In his simple, child like faith Woodrow is doing that which God wants from us more than anything, to Love Him with all our heart, and with all our soul and with all our mind; and to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is obvious that God lives in him. One day Woodrow will stand confidently before God’s throne perfected in love, sporting a grin the size of Texas, and perhaps while giving Him a bear hug, he will hear God say “Well done my good and faithful servant”.
What about you?1 John 4 tells us that loving others is what gives us confidence before God’s throne in the Day of Judgment – how are you doing with that? Will you stand confidently or will you bow in shame? Just askin’.
Woodrow thank you for invading my space and stealing my heart! I want to be just like you when I grow up. It is my prayer that I will never be able to get you off of my mind!
