On my way to church for my final Sunday as Minister of Music, I was filled with a mixed bag of emotions. I had been doing music ministry for forty years and now it was coming to a stop…for now, anyway. Where to next?

I decided to stop at our area Mickie D’s for an egg muffin and noticed a strange occurrence. No one was there. Oh, there were a couple of workers behind the counter but I was the only person in the dining room. No kids, no TVs, no people. After getting my order I headed to a table when I was suddenly greeted by a man with his carry-out bag. In the midst of my “natural” suspicions about the man’s intentions, the exchange went like this:

Me, “Good morning.”
Him, “Good morning. Say, are you a pastor?”
Me, “Well, yes I am.”
Him, “I have a meeting this morning and can’t attend my church and wonder if you would pray for me.”
Me, “Sure! What’s your name?”
Him, “Jimmy”
Me, “OK, Jimmy. Let’s pray.”

After praying for Jimmy, he told me briefly of his views on trust and hope. He said our hope is to be as if the thing hoped for had already happened. Wow! Did I need to hear that! And I told him so. When I told him this was my last day as Minister of Music at my church, he said, “Well let me pray for you!”

After praying for me, Jimmy left.

This understanding of hope was not a new concept to me but I needed the reminder. It was as if God were there in person to say “All is well. You are on the right path. Trust Me.”

After Jimmy left I was still the only person in the golden arches. I asked God, “What just happened?” I had never had an encounter like that in forty years of ministry and probably never will again. Whether Jimmy was an angel or not, God got my attention with His chosen instrument. He brought great encouragement to this searching soul.

Funny how God gives signs of confirmation at just the right times.

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2