Ricky Valles [2/25/12]
Francis Chan has said, “the times we experience God the most are when we are being a witness to men, scared, or just going outside of our church bubbles, because it is during those times that we are truly trusting in God.” Going to Epic Conference I thought I would get closer to God or at least have some focused time with Him, but it turned about to be so much more. For me, a salient aspect of conference was Day of Faith, a time where my heart grew and I saw people through God’s eyes.
On the day of outreach each school was given an area of San Francisco, and we were designated to China Town. Due to Chinese New Year being so close, there was a festival going in the area. There were so many people out that you could barely move without bumping into someone. I even lost my partner for a solid minute. Since the streets were densely populated, I thought it would be a good idea to go to a less crowded area. I figured a coffee shop would be a perfect place since they tend to be quieter. My partner and I stopped at a store on the street and asked a storeowner if he knew of any coffee shops close by. He directed us to a Starbucks that was only a few blocks away.
On our way towards Starbucks, as we were crossing the street, we passed by a Chinese man playing his instrument on the side of the street. On a whim we decided to talk to him. I initiated the conversation and continued talking to him until I realized he could not speak English. Fortunately my partner was able to speak with him and translate for me. This old Chinese man comes out everyday to the corner of the street and plays his instrument for money. He started playing his instrument when he was a boy and fell in love with it. He loves his instrument so much that he even tried to teach me how to play it. For a good five minutes I sat there awkwardly trying to play it while he talked to my partner, Ariel.
As our conversation with him progressed, we were able to learn more about him. He lived in San Francisco during his whole 73 years of life. He told us about his two children, who also live in San Francisco but they have become so busy with work that they rarely able to see their father. As he told us this you could see the sadness in his face, and how much he misses his children. Our conversation soon turned spiritual when we talked about church and religion. He told us about how he used to be a Buddhist but does not practice it anymore. He then gave us a list of reasons of why he would not go to church: too busy, too old, too tired, needs to work, and that his children are not around. We explained to him that it does not take much to be in a relationship with God and there is even a Cantonese church down the street, but he just laughed it off with another joke. We left soon after, because it was getting too cold for him and he had to go home.
My partner and I prayed for him afterwards. In processing, my heart broke for that funny, little man. He reminded me of how there are no requirements to be in a relationship with God. It does not matter how much baggage we have or what we have done in the past – He still wants us, just as we are. He wants all of our burdens and troubles; he wants us to lean on Him especially in times of trouble.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you,
and lean from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your soul.”
(Matt 11:28-29)
When I think of all the excuses that the old man gave during the day of faith, I think about how all those excuses he gave did not matter, but that Jesus still love him and would still want a relationship with him. I also thought about how joyous God would be to enter into a relationship with him, how happy He would be, if one of his creations, someone who was so fearfully and wonderfully made, would come to Him and be in a relationship with Him. God would not care about how old he was or what sins he has done, but HE would take so much joy in being a relationship with him. For me, my whole life I have known that God loves us, they tell you that at church all the time, but that day it hit me so hard just how much God loves people and just how much joy God receives from us. There are no requirements that need to be filled in order to be in a relationship with God, he just wants us. He died for our sin, because he loved us so much and wants that relationship with us. I will always remember that funny, old man. That day I was able to see that old man from Gods eyes and experience His love in a new way.
Tags: Faith, God, Outreach, Ricky. Rick, San Francisco
