I had never seen him before. He called me from the car and met me in the baggage claim area.
When riding in a taxi or limo I usually attempt to engage the driver in a conversation about himself or where he is from.
They will usually talk about their country, their family and their faith, if you inquire.
As you have experienced, the drivers are from any and everywhere.
As he pulled out of the airport I asked my usual question …” Where did you come to America from?”
“Christian Lebanon!!”
He did not speak softly.
He said it like I have seen fans almost shout out their phrases of allegiance to a college sports team.
“Christian Lebanon!”
He went on to describe being raised there and we began to talk about his faith.
I asked why he described it as “Christian” Lebanon.
He replied,
“There are those of us who worship Jesus Christ in Lebanon.”
I told him I worshiped
that same Jesus.
I just met a brother I never knew…
who I would now know throughout eternity.
He described how some family wanted to kill him.
He talked of how so many over there try to end their lives because of pursuing other prophets and other belief systems.
He stated “God gives us life to live …not to try and end it quickly”
I thought of how he had experienced a life I never had…and honestly would not want to.
He spoke of how so many lived in Peace for so long but that now no area was without constant conflict.
I asked him why he thought that was the case.
He stated “the enemy has them.”
Just like there….
our common enemy has
hold of many here as well.
That’s not demographic,
nor geographic.
Spiritual battlegrounds manifest themselves on every corner of our world.
There….it comes out in constant conflict and warfare between groups of people who have battled since Abraham made a bad decision.
Here…the battleground
Is not physical and visual as much as there….
it might be more subdued …
but it is warfare nonetheless.
The brother I never knew
has seen a family member put a gun to his
head and threaten him.
I have never experienced that,
Do not want to.
This spiritual brother not only drove me to my destination…he led me to see a Christian experience of struggle and turmoil much different and difficult than any I have felt or been through.
We both have a shared hope of Heaven.
We both have a shared Savior who experienced
the difficult walk my Lebanese brother has walked…
as well as the path I have tried.
The same Death cleansed us both.
The same Resurrection
saved us both.
The same JESUS suffered Death and walked out RESURRECTION for the two of us.
The same Kingdom exists within us and the same Heaven awaits us both.
The appreciation for the ease of my life and the admiration of those in desperate straits was increased beyond simple comparison,
Never hesitate to engage those you do not know when the occasion presents itself.
You may meet a brother you never knew you had.
And will have, for Eternity.
Terry Bethea 