About 17 years ago, I was approaching my last semester as Campus Minister through the Baptist Studen Union.
I had come to the campus, newly married, 37 years before, with great dreams of making a difference in the lives of young people during those crucial, decisionmaking years of college life.
I’ll let eternity determine the degree of success I had, but now I was facing a new challenge — retirement.
What was I going to do? Not being a golfer and having little interest in hunting or fishing, and with limited money to do much traveling, I hoped my usefulness had not come to an end. I knew doing nothing was highly overrated, so I begin to look around for opportunities.
I remember looking over my shoulder at the parking lot of the Fastlane Truck Stop across from the YMCA. There must have been 25 trucks parked there. The thought occurred to me those guys, and gals, seldom were free to attend church.
They were away from their families for long periods of time and faced many temptations. Before long, I had set up a table with devotional books available for free. My church provided funds to put together “goodie” bags to give away, along with New Testaments written especially for professional truck drivers.
I became a self-appointed Truck Stop Chaplain. For about 17 years now I go out each Saturday morning, about 8 a.m. I hand out the sacks containing some fruit, a few cookies, a Daily Bread Devotional booklet, and a CD containing a testimony of Greg Laurie a product of the Jesus movement of the 1970s movement.
I get to meet some interesting people from all over the country and often those whose country of origin may be Albania, Armenia, The Ukraine, Romania, and certainly the Latin American people groups.
As I introduce myself and hand them the goodie bag, I explain that I am the chaplain. “How can I pray for you today?” Often they are a little startled because it has been a long time, if ever, someone has asked them that question.
Those who are believers, smile and are deeply grateful to have found a Christian with whom they can share their concerns. We bow and I pray for their safety, for their families back home and other requests they have. For some it may be the first time that anyone has prayed for them by name.
One morning, as I finished praying, I said, “Have a good day.” The lady driver hugged me and said, “You’ve already made my day.”
On another morning as I was putting the books up, a young Hispanic man turned and said, “Oh, so you’re the one who puts these books up.” After embracing me he explained that a couple of years before, he had broken his legs in a truck accident, and during rehab, a book about Joni Eareckson’s struggle with her paralysis, had kept him going during those painful days. He had gotten the book from our bookrack.
Some of you are approaching retirement, or already there. As long as you love God and love people, He will find something that you can do. Remember, everyday is preparation for tomorrow. Keep your eyes open and your heart available and those days of freedom will be both exciting and deeply satisfying.
To comment, email jhm82@outlook or call (580) 772-2311.