Jesus Gave Me Away

I don't mind picking up homeless hitchhikers on the side of the road and I wasn't in a hurry to get somewhere, so as soon as I knew he was looking for a ride and not just walking, I stopped to pick him up.

He didn't smell and he wasn't looking for money. He did, however, want to go in the opposite direction; but he told me that before he got in, so that was okay. I didn't mind going back to Rock Rapids, like I say, I wasn't in a hurry.

But I didn't want to tell him I was a pastor. I wanted him to think I was an average person helping him in the name of Jesus. Pastors have to help because it's their job. Anyway, that's what everybody thinks and I wanted him think well of Christian laypeople.

Plus, pastors have to do more than laypeople would, and I wanted to keep the option to say 'no' open.

"So, are you clergy?"

I cannot tell a lie. "Yes, I am."

"I saw your cross." (Very observant. It's a little dashboard cross, but I don't keep it on the dashboard because it goes flying whenever I make a turn. I keep it in a little catch-all ashtray thing.)

Jesus had given me away.

So I took him into town and we looked for another church connection to be the next link in his life. It was a Monday, so there weren't any pastors around. Pastors and barbers take Mondays off. I suppose if we had wanted to get him a haircut, we couldn't do that either.

Eventually he thanked me and we parted. I think he figured I was not being much help, which was true, and he'd be better off looking by himself. He didn't ask, but I offered him a Jackson, which he accepted.

I waved and drove away.

Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.