Today I chose to walk at another hour of the day. I parked on 25th Street within sight of the Union Station at about 12:30 PM.
The weather was wonderful! A deep blue sky was sprinkled with rather small, non-threatening white clouds. The air was clean and sweet! No umbrella seemed necessary today!
Since I expected to see more business people at this time of the day, I dressed up a little . . . khaki Dockers and a Hawaiian shirt . . . you know, the way pastors in Southern California dress on Sunday mornings!
One other significant change: I carried my Bible today.
I decided to approach my circuit in a counter clock-wise direction, generally south, east, north, west, and south again. I set out with much praise and thanksgiving, and a quick prayer for a tender heart and an alert mind.
Approaching the first intersection at 25th and Wall, I noticed the difference in traffic at this time of the day . . . more people on the road! At every intersection cars were waiting for me to cross . . . I was keenly aware that people were watching the big guy in a bright shirt carrying a huge black Bible! I smiled and waved to those who waited.
The first segment of my walk was uneventful . . . I just watched and prayed.
Passing the youth center and human services center, I walked by two groups of people sitting or standing on the sidewalk talking. I overheard short parts of the conversations, enough to know that both groups were discussing personal problems and concerns . . . "Then I got pregnant" was heard at one group and "I know you are frustrated" was heard at the second. People with needs, people needing someone to talk to . . . this reality spoke to the pastoral counselor part of me. I thought, "I'd love to find a job which allowed me to offer comfort and counsel to the people I serve."
The path I have been walking is generally rectangular in shape, three city blocks east to west by seven city blocks north to south. Yesterday I began taking turns into that section of town, walking on the other side of a block then returning to the basic path. Thus, the length of my walk remained the same, but I saw other sights within the scope of my prayer focus.
Reaching the vicinity of Washington and 25th, I became aware of the many people standing at the various taco/tamale stands and others walking with Styrofoam food containers. (There were at least four sidewalk food vendors in town today, in addition to numerous restaurants, cafes, and fast food places.) Having skipped lunch, the availability of food appealed to me, but I also realized that a lot of people are hungry. I wondered how many were hungry for truth. Someone in this town must be hungry for God!
I passed a lot of people on the sidewalk . . . some nodded or greeted me, and some seemed to deliberately direct their attention away from me . . . I wondered what affect the sight of my Bible might be having . . .
At the Washington side of the Mormon Temple I prepared to take a closer look at something I noticed about the landscape on Tuesday. I saw a small Hispanic woman walking in my direction pause where I planned to look. She was looking at the plants I wanted to inspect. On Tuesday I saw what looked like pepper plants . . . small bushes covered with orange or yellow or red or green chili peppers! As I approached the lady said, "Are those vegetables?" I said, "I think so! I wonder if they can be eaten?" As she walked away, I suddenly realized the other plants were leafy green and purple cabbages! I wondered what the Mormon authorities would think of me harvesting veggies from their landscape . . .
A little further along, I spied a grocery cart filled with belongings . . . a young woman was sitting in the parkway next to the cart, and ten feet away, a man paced near a bus bench. As I passed the cart and approached the man's position, he took two steps into the street, mumbled something about "a white man's problems" stepped back to the curb and quickly walked away from me. His behavior was odd and eccentric . . . I suspect he was oppressed by demons and became agitated as I approached. "Oh Lord, you can set him free!"
Walking on I thought of the time I spent in prayer this morning, putting on the armor of God.
During the last segment of my walk, I was very aware of the aroma of bread baking somewhere nearby. I tried to figure out what was happening in the nearest building . . . then I saw a sign that said "International Armoring Corporation." I doubted that they were baking bread, but I offered another word of thanks to the One who provided spiritual armor for living!
In the last block of my walk, I passed what must have been the source of the aroma . . . a little "ristorante" and bakery on 25th street. Several people sitting in the windows were eating sandwiches made on what must have been freshly baked french rolls.
Within 100 feet of my car I had a unique experience. Two men were standing beneath a sign that said, "BEER" . . . as I passed, I smiled and said, "Good afternoon!" One man said, "Hi! I always respect a man with a Bible!" I was at a loss for words . . . I turned and smiled, "Do you have a Bible?" He said no . . . I said, "It's a good thing to have! God bless you!" Turning, I walked away, kicking myself on the inside and saying, "Dear God, help me do better than that next time I have an opportunity to speak to someone!"
I have a lot to learn! Maybe that's why God sent me here . . . keep praying for Homer in Ogden!
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