I usually don’t share a Saturday morning devotional – but the events of yesterday have caused me to reflect and wanted to share the following thoughts with you.
Traffic Jams and Praying.
July 19, 2025
Pastor Calvin Cook
Scripture – I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
I had just updated my GPS in my car in anticipation of the trip that Gail and I were planning to take for a mid-summer get away to celebrate Gail’s birthday. Everything was going wonderfully until we encountered some torrential down pours traveling through Ohio. It was the kind of rain that I remembered as a kid having to pull over and wait out. Then several places along the route the traffic was either heavy or stopped. Taking us about 2 hours to travel 40 miles. All of this turning a 6 hour trip into almost 10 hours.
We made adjustments to our plans and continued to move on. We were Ok ! We had plenty of water to drink, food to eat, we were cool and comfortable. We chatted, listened to music and a few podcast. Learned about some new things and reminisced about our travels and reminders of where we have been before and were we were planning to go in the future. We attributed the day to being blessed by God and God’s care.
Our arrival in London KY was later than planned. We were road tired but walked to a local restaurant for some late dinner. The place was nice and one of those left over iconic eatery that we remembered having at home when we were younger. Reminding us how the good thoughts of the past, move us forward.
Here is how the day ended. I noticed a man walking into the restaurant, who appeared disheveled. The gentlemen probably wasn’t dressed to the expectations of those in the restaurant, and all eyes seemed to be on him as he walked through the restaurant. Evidently, he was known because the servers called him by name and brought him water to drink.
It was at the end of the day – the restaurant ready to close, but the man was treated kindly. I noticed as he went to the salad bar that he returned with his plates. The man clasped his hands together with his elbows firmly on the table, placed his head on his hands and began to pray. I couldn’t hear the words, but he was praying out loud. Suddenly it seemed that those who were looking and watching at one time, now became quiet. Even the family sat near with children who seemed to be rambunctious through most of their time in their restaurant.
This man, looking how I was feeling, tattered and torn, dressed like I was hoping to be dressed, with a ripped t-shirt and over sized clothes, long un kept hair, and other attributes that some would look at as hindrances and with judgement, changed the atmosphere. altered the surroundings, brought the holiness of God into a place. All of this by a person that would be assumed to be lost in the struggles of the world.
Lord, forgive me when I begin to try and figure everything out.
I was hoping to comment to the man on the way past before he prayed a word of hope. Instead, his actions ministered to me. It is not the outside God is working on to change but the inside. The heart, the soul, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I paused and thought – regardless of who you are, and where you are, you are known and loved by God. And…… you are called to share his light into the world to all people……..
On the way past – I did pause – as I began to speak wanting to thank him for being a witness of Christ into that place – the man lifted his head made eye contact and offered his hand. I said “thank you for living out your faith” – to which he responded, “I love Jesus with all my heart, He is my Savior.”
Enough said ————– now allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you and through you.
Thoughts from the Edges 
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