A story that will either challenge or enrage you

I recently finished reading Chris Tomlin's book The Way I Was Made a second time and thought I would share one story he writes about that really struck a chord with me.


"Neil is one of those guys that can read your mail, if you know what I mean. He sees through to the truth about people and situations and seems to know what to do. All in a very unnoticed kind of way. I could tell you four or five stories that would blow you away, but I'll keep it to one.

Neil was having lunch at the Kettle (yep, the same landmark of Brownwood cuisine I already mentioned). He was in the area for a speaking engagement. Neil loves places like the Kettle and Waffle House. He says that's where Jesus would eat.

Well, the waitress had walked up to take his order when Neil noticed she seemed worn out. Their conversation went something like this:

Neil: 'How are ya?'
Waitress: 'I'm really tired. Been working two jobs to make ends meet. And I'm just waiting for my fifteen-minute break.'
Neil: 'What are you going to do on your break?'
Waitress: 'Oh, grab a smoke. I can't wait.'
Neil: 'What kind of cigarettes you smoke?'
Waitress, looking a little surprised: 'Ah, the generic ones. Can't afford the expensive ones. What would you like to eat?'
Neil ordered.
Neil ate.
Neil paid.
Then Neil went straight to the nearest Wal-Mart. 'Say,' he said to the first employee he met, 'I'm here to buy your most expensive cigarettes. Can you help me?' (He didn't have a lot of experience in this particular kind of shopping.)
As soon as he made his purchase, Neil headed back to the Kettle. His timing couldn't have been more perfect. When he pulled up, a cluster of waitresses were out back on break, his waitress among them. They stood near the trash bin, passing one lit cigarette around for all to share.
Neil headed toward them with the expensive stuff. (He told me later they looked at him like he was Ed McMahon driving up in the Publishers Clearing House van.) He handed the cigarettes to the woman who had waited on him. 'I just want you to know that God cares about you just the way you are,' he said. 'Enjoy these.'
He was starting back to his car when the waitress said, 'Sir?'
'Yeah?'
'Are you a preacher in this town?'
'No,' Neil replied. 'Just speaking at a church here for a few nights. Then I'm moving on.'
'That's too bad,' said the waitress. She was still holding the cigarettes like some kind of grand prize. Neil noticed she was tearing up.
'Too bad,' she repeated, her voice trembling, 'cause I would like to go to your church.'
I love that story! The waitress never knew Neil's name, but when he left, she knew that God cared about her. That's what an unnoticed life looks like, I think. A person who humbly makes God's fame great to others in a language they understand.
And what an accomplishment! Why wouldn't that be worth the finest pack of smokes a guy could buy?"


There are two ways to respond to this story, and most of us will have that response one way or the other immediately. If you are one who loved this story, take a moment and ask yourself why? Do you love the part where Neil bought the cigarettes (that was me)? If so, prayerfully consider that what you loved was the rebellious nature of the story and not the fact that Neil worked to find a point of connection, a way of tangibly showing the waitress that God loved her in a way that SHE would understand.
If you really hated this story, it's probably because Neil bought her cigarettes. Take a few moments in prayer and talk to God about this. What's more important, Neil's strategy or the fact that what he did obviously made an impression on the waitress, who has tears in her eyes by the end of the story. She knew at that point that God indeed loved her. And then ask yourself when was the last time you attempted to make that kind of impression to anyone in public.