Lucky Dogs!

While in New Orleans, I discovered Lucky Dogs! MMMMMM...... they are really yummy hot dogs sold by street vendors in the Bourbon Street area in New Orleans.
I know... I know.... a hot dog! These are not just any hot dog - they are Lucky Dogs and worth every calorie and fat gram!
Lucky Dogs are about $5.00 - a fairly expensive hot dog! Again - worth every cent!

John introduced me to Lucky Dogs very early on in the week - he knows how much I love a good hot dog! I enjoyed every bite of my Lucky Dog - but felt very guilty after I had finished it. At the time, I had no idea that a Lucky Dog would change my life and affect my heart. Not the heart that beats in my chest - but my heart that belongs to Jesus.

WARNING - I am about to bare my soul - stop reading now if you're not interested.

John and I were together while in New Orleans almost constantly. However, on one afternoon - we walked across the street to Harrah's because John likes to play BlackJack. I don't like to gamble because I don't like to lose my money. I found a penny slot machine and gave it $10.00. That is a LOT of pennies! It didn't take me long to lose my pennies and I decided that I wasn't going to give Harrah's any more of my money! John stayed and played BlackJack and I walked across the street to play at Saks Fifth Avenue Department store.

On my way across the street, I thought about how yummy a Lucky Dog would taste. I knew that I probably didn't need to venture into the area where they are sold without John - but decided to risk it for the pleasure of eating a very special hot dog!

As I walked about 5 blocks to get to a vendor, I walked past some seemingly very scary looking people. By the time I got to the vendor, I must say that my heart (the one in my chest) was beating very fast and I was feeling fearful. I know... I don't have a spirit of fear - but at that moment I did. I bought my Lucky Dog with mustard only and started back to Sak's and safety - eating my dog as I walked.

I had only made it about 1/2 block when I passed a very scary looking man - he was obviously a "street person", his clothes tattered and dirty, missing many teeth, African American, and he was sitting on the curb holding his plastic trash bag of possesions. Our eyes met - and I am sure my face was full of terror becasue at that moment - I was scared to death! I quickly looked away.

This man spoke up and said "please don't look at me like that - please don't be afraid of me." I walked faster. Then he said even louder, "I won't hurt you - I'm just hungry!" He said "I want a Lucky dog too." I kept walking - stepped up my pace to almost running.

Now you say - how did that change your life and how did that affect my heart (the one that belongs to Jesus?)

In the midst of my panic - I heard that still quiet voice on the inside of me say, "buy him a hot dog." I tried to ignore it and walk/run faster.

I could not get that man out of my mind - I kept seeing his face and hearing his voice. That still quiet voice that speaks on the inside of me - kept asking me why I didn't buy that man a Lucky Dog - he was hungry?

I realized that this was an opportunity for me to have shown God's love to someone in need. What if this man had been praying and asking God to provide food for him? I could have been the person that God put there at that moment to answer his prayer. For goodness sakes - he was hungry and I should have fed him! What if this man didn't know Jesus - I could have shown him grace and mercy and let him see God's love in action. If I had only stopped and taken time - maybe I could have told him how to meet Jesus - how to find life abundant - how to find forgiveness and grace.
How could I have been so self-absorbed that I turned my back on a hungry person just because he didn't dress like me - look like me - live like me? In the instant that our eyes met, it was like I could see into his soul - his eyes were so sad and were almost pleading with me to have mercy.

This man was some mother's son - he had been loved and adored by someone at some point in his life! God created this man and loves him and adores him now! God loves him as much as HE loves me. God is NOT a respecter of persons. All of God's creations are equal in His sight. I don't know what circumstances brought that man to be homeless and hungry and dirty. I am sure he had a story - if I had allowed God to use me - perhaps his life story could have a better ending.

I REALLY BLEW IT!

I don't want to be just a Sunday Christian. I want to be a light in the dark world. I want to be available for Jesus to use me. I want to be the hands and mouth and heart of Jesus in this world. I want to be different from the world. I want to show the love of Christ to those who don't know Him.

God used this Lucky Dog incident to let me know that I still have a long way to go and grow before I arrive. God loves all mankind - and I should too. I'm not any better than the next human being.

I wish I could apologize to the Lucky Dog man - I wish I could buy him a dozen Lucky Dogs - but I can't. I missed that opportunity.

But - I can pray for him - and I vow to listen to that still quiet voice in my heart and act on it next time instead of walking away.

I know that I disappointed the heart of God - the good news is that I know He is faithful to forgive us when we ask. I also know that God is bigger than my mess-up. I pray and trust that our Father sent someone else to feed that hungry man.

Just as I explained to Taylor the other day - "even when we are bad (in my case, disobedient), we find forgiveness from God and that is how we learn."

I love you Jesus - thank you for loving me when I do "it" right and when I do "it" wrong.
Char

PS - I never made it to Sak's. It just didn't feel right - me going into a department store to shop for "stuff" that I really didn't need when there were hungry homeless people only 5 blocks away.