Divine Appointments

For me, it was one of those rare encounters that could only be from God.

A “divine appointment” if you will. Where the circumstances by which you get connected with someone are so random and unexplainable, that you are left to just say……..Wow.

A have a new friend, and I do not think I need permission to share his name, or paraphrase his story. We met for lunch a couple of weeks ago, and now I cannot stop thinking about him and what he represents.

Our connection was brought about by tragedy. A mutual friend lost to a tragic crash, at a far too young age. For me, this year of 2018 is going to be marked by tragedies. My post from early summer entitled “The Great Equalizer” was a way of grieving friends who are lost from us too soon. And, only weeks later, another of my closest friends perished in a motorcycle accident.

All these tragedies are adding up.

In late September, another tragedy stuck, this time in Alaska, resulting in an untimely death of a young businessman and his son. I had come to know him through business dealings in Alaska, and we shared a faith connection. Little did I know that he was a strong supporter of a ministry located here in Colorado.

God placed it on my heart to reach out to this ministry director, perhaps if only to grieve together the death of our friend. But there was more.

By the time this lunch was over, I had learned the story of a man who has given his life, for over 38 years now, to the fight against human trafficking across the world. He has seen things in his life that haunt his every word, to the point that he must pause between every sentence he speaks, in order to fight back the tears and heartache. He fights a battle for victimized young women who most people can’t bring themselves to think about, because the depth of evil is more than most can bear.

I am not sure if I have ever met someone quite like you, Jeff.

He is a servant of the living God. He accepts his calling without complaint. He toils on with perseverance and strength that is not of his own power. He rejoices in small victories along the way, but grieves and carries the burdens of the helpless victims he pursues for the majority of his waking hours. He takes refuge in the loving support and devotion of his wife, and he literally walks the walk of the downtrodden and forgotten.

Amidst all the evil he has witnessed, he models the heart of Jesus. When asked if he hates the people who perpetrate these horrific crimes, he is quick to say, “I do not hate them….I hate what they do.” And he prays that those who have been caught will find their redemption through Christ.

I am so grateful that I get to meet so many wonderful people in this life. These are the true heroes. You have to look hard for them at times, because they are not out for attention. Maybe, just maybe, you get scheduled for a divine appointment.

Thank you, Dr. Jeff Brodsky, for your example and your sacrifice. It is an honor to pledge support to Joy International, and I will do what I can to honor the legacy left by our mutual friend.

Now, how about you? Have you ever had a “divine appointment”?      Share it!