Short Stories

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I took a deep breath as I stood at the end of Jolly Harbor Beach and paused for one last look at the beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean. I thanked the Lord for the time of rest and relaxation in Antigua with my husband. Each morning I took long walks alone along the beach to pray, be silent, and just listen as I made my way along the shoreline. I simply enjoyed the rugged beauty of the tiny, 14-mile-long island.

After I finished on the beach I headed toward the path that led to my room at the resort. I saw a man that I had noticed a couple of times before in the same vicinity. Antigua allows some of the locals to sell items and tour packages on the beach. We had spoken to quite a few of them - made friends with a couple of them as well! This particular man with long, ratted hair spoke to me as I began my way up to the path. His small wooden table was partially hidden under a bushy tree and he was sitting in one of the resort’s beach loungers near it.

“Are you going home?” He asked. I briefly looked up, not really wanting to stop at this point. I slowed my pace to barely moving and responded with a cheerful sigh, “Yep, it’s time for me to go. We’ve got to go home and get back to work.” As I began to continue to move slowly past him, he spoke again. “I watched you walk by all week. How come you didn’t stop to look?” He asked. The question poked at my heart and I turned back toward him. “No, I didn’t stop to look, I responded.” Of course I mentioned to him that we had already stopped, looked, and purchased items from several others to take home with us – yes, basically my excuse! Honestly, I didn’t want to feel bad for not buying anything, so I figured it was easier to not stop so that he didn’t feel slighted either. However, in that moment, I made a choice to look at his things.

Right away, I spotted an interesting, flat colored coral that he had displayed. It gave me the opportunity to ask him about it. I still wasn’t convinced that I needed to buy anything, but when I asked him about his coral I noticed that his face lit up instantly. His entire posture seemed to change. Excitement spilled over as he talked about the coral. He shared some of his experiences with me about how he had personally snorkeled and gathered all the beautiful ocean shells and coral on his table. He didn’t buy his things in, he looked and searched for his treasures - I loved that! My heart felt like it was poked just a little bit more.

To hear a couple of his short stories and laugh a bit with him gave me a small look into his world. I’m sure my enthusiasm for shells and corals was evident. It was after those brief moments that I finally really looked at him for the first time. I looked into his eyes and asked him for his name – it was “Rocky”. I introduced myself.

After we briefly discussed his recommendations as to where he thought the top snorkeling spots were in Antigua, I asked about his family and where he lived on the island. We conversed a bit more, then moved on to talk about the beautiful plates that he crafted. By simply using sand and paint he was able to create landscape scenes of Antigua on what looked to be inexpensive plastic plates. I took one last look at him and asked him prices. I told him that I would go and check my money situation out back in my room; I really didn't know what kind of cash we had left on hand. I suppose this kept my option open to either return or not. I had already collected a gallon sized bag of beautiful shells. However, I had stopped to look at his things - this was really all he had asked of me, right?

The question of why I hadn’t stopped to look would not escape me-this would be a teachable moment! From the moment I looked into those eyes, connected on a first name basis and listened to Rocky's stories, I knew I would return. He wasn’t aggressive in his sales approach like I thought he might be and although he looked a little rough, he was very kind. I’m not by any means promoting the idea of not being cautious when you are in a foreign place either! One prominent thought dominated my mind during this encounter – just stop and look, grace discovers people.

Rocky was glad that I returned to purchase one of his beautiful plates. He graciously thanked me and offered to take my husband and I snorkeling if we ever returned to the island. Honestly, I would love to return; however, not only for the rest, the snorkeling and the beauty of the island, but to interact with the Antiguan people.

I considered many things during my stay. The parable of The Good Samaritan found in the book of Luke 10: 25-37 was still fresh in my mind. I had been studying grace with some other women and my thoughts were wrapped around my need for Jesus increasing all the more – we just keep needing Him don’t we?! Read the account if you need a freshening on how Jesus engages with the expert of the law. This man knew the rules and the law – Jesus will teach him more! He asks Jesus how he can inherit eternal life. Jesus responds by asking him what was written in the law. In verse 27 the expert of the law answers, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and Love your neighbor as yourself". You have answered correctly, "Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." However, this expert of the law asks a question in order to justify himself in verse 29, "And who is my neighbor?" He needed to get his pat on the back - you know, that in fact he was already loving God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength and his neighbor as himself. Jesus then tells this man the parable and finishes up by then asking the expert of the law to whom he felt was the good neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robber. His answer in verse 37, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus then says, "Go and do likewise."

Jesus’s approach to people is beautiful– what an example He gives us to follow! I’m certain that my heart condition has been like that of the expert of the law – not intentionally, but in honesty I miss the mark at times and at times like to pick whom I think are my neighbors. However, the Holy Spirit whispers – open your eyes child! In my particular encounter, Rocky wasn’t bleeding or physically showing any signs of being in desperate need of my help, but yet he simply asked me a question. This question was a good one for me friends. It’s so easy to not want to stop when we are thinking about our own stuff, maybe even while we are relaxing on vacation. We can simply walk past and don’t notice, or perhaps we don’t want to see because it may cost us something, and I’m not just referring to money. Jesus stopped along His way! He healed many physically, but yet He saw right past people's physical exterior and behavior and went to the interior heart chambers above all else.

Reflections upon His grace and truth in our own lives should draw us more and more to operate within it. People continue to cross our paths daily. Sometimes it may be easier to stay on the other side of the path and be in a hurry and not notice whom we are passing, or perhaps we do notice. But do we stop? And what if we think we’ve loved enough for the day? Or are we select in whom we notice because of the risk it may require of us? Oh yes, especially those who don’t fit into our little boxes. But yet, if we allow the Holy Spirit to continually guide us with His grace and truth, we will desire more and more to stop and look with fresh eyes of grace and respond accordingly. We have neighbors wherever we go.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, your grace and truth continue to leave us in awe. Holy Spirit you are welcome to move us to action. Give us your eyes and awaken these hearts to stop and engage with others – your grace captures hearts!

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