Highway to Heaven (Crazy Story)


Today I was coming from Winston Salem to Greensboro on I40. (For those of you who don't know, I40 is the highway that runs from like, NC - CA. Its a major Highway) Anyway, I am about 1 mile from my exit and I pass a guy who is not in a car and lying on his back in the emergency lane. My initial thought was that he just got hit by a car, he literally looked dead.

Immediately, I swerved over to the emergency lane, jumped out of my car and began to sprint to him. By the time I got to him, there was 2 other guys standing over him. I got there and he began to sit up. We began to ask him what happened. He seemed very confused. He (who I later found out, was named Ed) said that he was a diabetic and was walking on the highway and guesses he just passed out. (now there are about 5 guys out there helping this guy.) One of the guys says to Ed, "where are you trying to go and why are you walking on the highway?" For some reason this pissed Ed off. He began to get real confrontational. Then another guys starts raising his voice to Ed and saying, "I'm a Bishop, I'm a Bishop; so you can talk to me". Now I am totally confused thinking to myself how did we get from what seemed to be a dead guy on the highway to now and argument of who is a Bishop"

Being the only white guy out of all of us, I kinda just stood back as this thing began to escalate more. It was a very weird situation. Finally, I just yelled, "STOP." I said, "Bro, you were just passed out on the highway, let me pray for you." Ed looked at me and was like "but, but, na man, na, I can't", I just cut him off and said as sternly as I ever talked to a stranger, "We'll talk after, lets just invite God to move on our behalf and fix whatever is going on." (Keep in mind that by now probably 400 cars have driven by us and there are 5 guys standing in the emergency lane of the largest highway in Greensboro.) I laid a hand on this guy, and 2 others did the same, We began to pray for him, that God would just intervene in this guys life." It was beautiful to see how the Lord sent this guy 3 believers who were just driving past on the highway. Finally, I stopped and looked at him. Ed picked his head up and there were literally tears running down his face. "I knew that God had just touched this guy" He just broke down and was crying, then he stood straight and (Random) gave me a huge hug". He then told us that he lost his job and couldn't afford his rent, so he got kicked out of his apartment. He said that he refused to beg for money; and he just needed a job and a ride downtown. The guy to the right of me said I''ll take you downtown and I am hiring, I'll get you a job at my office, can you do labor work?"

What? Are you freakin serious? God just got this guy prayer, a ride, and a job in about 10 minutes; and I got to be a part of it. At that point I just told the guy who was going to give Ed a ride home, to give me a call if he needed any more help and I gave him my cell.

By the time I got back into my car, I couldn't hold in the tears. I was just a part of something crazy. Whats even crazier is that when I finally got back into the car and gained composure I put my Ipod back on and got back to listening to a podcast from my boy Matt Chandler (he doesnt know he's my boy) Anyway, read the text that he was speaking from. It is weird.
Luke 10:25-37
25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself." 28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

7 comments:

*Austin Mommy* said...

Wow!

Amber Shomo said...

that's amazing!!

Anonymous said...

This is so cool Matt!
wow. seriously. wow.

nick mucci said...

git 'er done! amen

Anonymous said...

That is crazy matt im glad you were there to help man seriously that is a amazing story

dave said...

incredible story bro!

Anonymous said...

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