Twice in my life I believe God spoke directly to me. The first was many years ago, the second was this past week.
I have a next-door neighbor who is reclusive. We have been friends for 25 years. He is an unmarried bachelor and a devout Christian. We would meet doing outside chores and enjoyed each other’s company. He would occasionally come into my house for brief visits, usually to ask me to get his mail while he was out of town. Every Christmas he would bring a small gift, standing at my door just long enough to make the delivery. In all these years I had never stepped inside his home but would occasionally deliver his mail standing on the porch. I had no issue with this; I respect his need for privacy.
My neighbor is also an avid sports fan and contributor of his favorite College team. He was flying out for an away game and asked me to get his mail. He would pick it up of Sunday.
I saw him return on schedule but he didn’t come to get his mail; that was unusual. That evening I noticed he left a light on in his window, something I had never seen him do before. I was concerned but planned on delivering his mail the next day.
On Monday the light was still on. Mid-morning I rang his doorbell but got no answer. My anxiety increased significantly but I brushed it off as best I could. By mid-afternoon I still got no response after ringing the bell and pounding firmly on his door.
Now I became seriously concerned. The strange light was still on and there had been no sign of him during the day. He had planned on doing yard that day but it was left undone. I went home and attempted to call him on the cellphone he always kept with him. There was no answer.
I again pounded vigorously on his door. Getting no answer I began window peeping. His interior lights were still on and I could see most of the inside. There was a TV playing but I could not see anything unusual. Somewhat relieved I went home but decided to see if he would respond to a text. He did not.
The following morning; Tuesday, the light was still on and there was no sigh of my neighbor. In spite of being moderately assured he was not in the house, I decided to call his work. I learned he had taken vacation. When I mentioned I had lost contact, they called his sister to see if she had heard from him.
He had called his sister that Sunday afternoon to cancel a long standing family event because “He wasn’t feeling well.” Now my smoldering concerns became a wildfire.
His sister immediately left to make the three hour trip and asked me to do whatever necessary to gain entry to the home. I called the Sheriff for a “Wellness Check.” The sheriff confirmed his sister’s request and kicked in a side garage door. I was both alarmed and relieved, his car was there in the garage but he was not. The Sheriff instructed me to remain in the garage as they did a search. I hear one of them say “He’s in here.” I was torn between joy and dread. The Sheriff’s Deputy came out and shook his head. He was found in a small area of the house I could not see from outside.
Be sure, no part of this event was voluntary! Nothing was my decision, I was compelled. On my own, I would have made excuses and allowed this to unroll without my interference.
Both times when God spoke directly to me it was overpowering. There was no voice, just all the power of creation pushing me unwillingly along to accomplish something I did not understand. Both times had the same result; God accomplished His will for the good of His children. The first time was healing. In this case a righteous man was honorably treated and his family was spared unnecessary pain and trauma.
If someone claims God is not alive and working in this world, I would say they are simply not listening.
I have a next-door neighbor who is reclusive. We have been friends for 25 years. He is an unmarried bachelor and a devout Christian. We would meet doing outside chores and enjoyed each other’s company. He would occasionally come into my house for brief visits, usually to ask me to get his mail while he was out of town. Every Christmas he would bring a small gift, standing at my door just long enough to make the delivery. In all these years I had never stepped inside his home but would occasionally deliver his mail standing on the porch. I had no issue with this; I respect his need for privacy.
My neighbor is also an avid sports fan and contributor of his favorite College team. He was flying out for an away game and asked me to get his mail. He would pick it up of Sunday.
I saw him return on schedule but he didn’t come to get his mail; that was unusual. That evening I noticed he left a light on in his window, something I had never seen him do before. I was concerned but planned on delivering his mail the next day.
On Monday the light was still on. Mid-morning I rang his doorbell but got no answer. My anxiety increased significantly but I brushed it off as best I could. By mid-afternoon I still got no response after ringing the bell and pounding firmly on his door.
Now I became seriously concerned. The strange light was still on and there had been no sign of him during the day. He had planned on doing yard that day but it was left undone. I went home and attempted to call him on the cellphone he always kept with him. There was no answer.
I again pounded vigorously on his door. Getting no answer I began window peeping. His interior lights were still on and I could see most of the inside. There was a TV playing but I could not see anything unusual. Somewhat relieved I went home but decided to see if he would respond to a text. He did not.
The following morning; Tuesday, the light was still on and there was no sigh of my neighbor. In spite of being moderately assured he was not in the house, I decided to call his work. I learned he had taken vacation. When I mentioned I had lost contact, they called his sister to see if she had heard from him.
He had called his sister that Sunday afternoon to cancel a long standing family event because “He wasn’t feeling well.” Now my smoldering concerns became a wildfire.
His sister immediately left to make the three hour trip and asked me to do whatever necessary to gain entry to the home. I called the Sheriff for a “Wellness Check.” The sheriff confirmed his sister’s request and kicked in a side garage door. I was both alarmed and relieved, his car was there in the garage but he was not. The Sheriff instructed me to remain in the garage as they did a search. I hear one of them say “He’s in here.” I was torn between joy and dread. The Sheriff’s Deputy came out and shook his head. He was found in a small area of the house I could not see from outside.
Be sure, no part of this event was voluntary! Nothing was my decision, I was compelled. On my own, I would have made excuses and allowed this to unroll without my interference.
Both times when God spoke directly to me it was overpowering. There was no voice, just all the power of creation pushing me unwillingly along to accomplish something I did not understand. Both times had the same result; God accomplished His will for the good of His children. The first time was healing. In this case a righteous man was honorably treated and his family was spared unnecessary pain and trauma.
If someone claims God is not alive and working in this world, I would say they are simply not listening.
