I have said on numerous occasions I joined JMT because I sincerely want to add value to the lives of others and make a difference. I have also shared I have a passion for helping those in need. This morning I woke up and the sun was shining. Rather than go to the gym I thought I’d walk outside and breathe in air and pure light. My walk is 3 1/2 miles on a country road. As I walked I was listening to one of my meditation videos. Today’s mantra was give love to someone in need and refrain from being judgmental. As I walked I saw a van parked along the road. There was a big white dog sitting next to the van. As I walked past the van I noticed a woman sitting in the driver seat. She was wrapped in a sleeping bag. I noticed the van was filled with many personal belongings and the top of the van had coolers and other items. At first I was overtaken with fear so I started running. However, as I ran a voice in my head told me this woman was homeless and she was in trouble. I walked another mile and a half and by the time I arrived at home it was clear I needed to help this woman. I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote this woman a note. I told her I didn’t know her story and it was none of my business. Her story was between her and god but I wanted to remind her that she was loved and I encouraged her to have faith and trust god would see her through this. Encouraging words I have heard from so many JMT members during my own trials. I put a $20 bill in the letter and stuffed it in an envelope. I addressed the envelope “To an Angel from another Angel.” I got in my car and drove to give the letter to this woman. I was fearful as I pulled up next to the van. I could have never imagined what awaited me. The woman I saw was actually a young woman in her mid twenties with a young son who was probably 3 or 4. They were eating dry cheerios out of a bag. My stomach sank. This young woman kept trying to make up excuses as to why she was there. Her son was happily telling me his name was Jaime. I handed her the envelope. She said “oh no. I’m ok really. I just lost my phone”. I knew she was lying. Her young son began opening the envelope. As he did I felt the tears roll down my eyes. I wasn’t alone. This young woman began crying too. I knew then I had done the right thing. I drove home in tears. I don’t always make a difference in the lives of others but I certainly hope I made a difference in this woman’s life this morning. I take my affiliation with JMT very seriously. I’m so grateful that today I was able to exercise the Law of Intuition and use it to help someone in need. I didn’t judge. Instead I gave love to someone in need. Despite my fear, I followed that little voice that said “help”. I’m still teary eyed as I share this story. However I’m grateful to be a part of team who encourages me to be intuitive to helping others. 

Many years ago when I was probably in my late 20’s the priest at my church gave a powerful homily. He told about a homeless man who sat on the sidewalk next to a bank. He was a man in need. This man was disheveled, dirty and had a beard. As people walked in and out of the bank they ignored and shunned him. Not one person stopped to help. Finally, a young man before walking in to the bank stopped to help this man. He not only gave him money he asked the homeless man what he could do to help. The homeless man stood up. When he did, he wasn’t what he seemed. In fact his entire appearance had changed. He was Jesus and he blessed this young man with so many blessings. The priest at my church ended the homily by saying “often times god speaks to us or disguises himself through people. Never walk past someone in need. You never know, you might miss your chance to meet Jesus and miss out on the many blessings he has in store for us”. That homily had an enormous impact on my life. It’s one of the reasons I’m so passionate about helping those in need. I don’t want to miss out on the chance to meet or help Jesus. 

You never know whose life you will change when you choose to be their light for a day. And as you’re helping someone in need, remember….you never know the person you are helping just might be Jesus! 

Matthew 25:31-46New International Version (NIV)

The Sheep and the Goats

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Photo credit Gaylord Rhodes