Those of you who know me, know that one of my favorite passages of Scripture is Psalm 46:10a.  "Be still and know that I am God."  The key phrase for me is "be still".  In our busy lives, we seldom ever take the time to be still.  It is a lesson that in my middle age, I am FINALLY learning. 

Last Thursday, I was running errands.  I was in the car with the radio off and was trying to be still (even while driving) and listen to what God might have to say to me that day.  As I turned from one busy street onto another, I noticed a family standing by the side of the road.  As I drove by, the mother lifted up her thumb like a hitchhiker seeking a ride would do.  Stunned, I did a double-take, and as I looked back, she was looking at me.  Something told me to go back....

I drove around the block, and came back to this Latino family....all dressed up and hitching a ride.  Turned out that they needed a ride to church.  So, the two boys, the mother, and the baby girl got in my car, while the father waved goodbye.  The young man who sat up front with me told me his name was Stephen, then he introduced the rest of the family - his little brother, Andrew, his mother, Maria, and his little sister (whose name I did not catch).  I assumed they wanted a ride to the church right down the street and asked.  "No, not that church," Stephen replied.  "We are going to Ardmore Baptist Church." 

"Ardmore Baptist Church?  That's my church."  I said.  "I wasn't planning on going there tonight, but maybe I should.  What's happening at Ardmore Baptist Church?'

With pride, Stephen smiled from ear to ear.  "It's my fifth grade graduation!" 

As we talked more on the brief ride to the church, I learned that Stephen attended the elementary school right across the street from my house.  We were neighbors.....in more ways than one.

As I let Stephen and his family off at "my" church, he assured me that they had a ride home.  I never got the story about why they needed a ride to church.  Maybe they had planned to walk, but when the clouds started threatening rain, they decided to hitch a ride.  Maybe they had car trouble.  Maybe, like is often the case with me, they had planned to walk, but were simply running late.

I have no logical explanation for why I stopped.  All I know is that at a time when I was trying to be still and listen.....in the midst of my busyness...God spoke to me. Picking up a hitchhiker is not something I would normally do.  Yet, when I saw that family, something.....or Someone.....told me to stop and help.  My day was blessed through a beautiful little Latino boy who was graduating from fifth grade.  The joy in his and his mother's faces as I dropped them off at the church was absolutely beautiful to behold.  It was reminder to me of the need to slow down, to be watchful, and to listen.....you never know when that still, small voice may speak.

Sometimes you just know.....