Friday, December 1st, 2017
TYLER GIVES BACK
Tyler called me yesterday morning with the news that he’s been asked to help out the Metro Hope Center in Minneapolis, the rehab facility where he lived for 14 months. The staff member who was a counselor on call for the Friday and Saturday and sometimes Sunday night shifts left for some reason or another. They called Tyler and wondered if he could fill in on a temporary basis, or even on a permanent basis if he so felt the call. He said he’d need to talk to his mentor first – namely me.
I thought out loud as I worked through the matter with Tyler. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea, Tyler. You already have a full-time job, and I’m afraid you’ll get burned out with two jobs, especially one that requires you to be up all night for two nights. Also, it will impact your church activities on Sunday (he goes to two or three services in various places), and you’ll have no social life.” Then I sat back and waited for Tyler to agree with me. He didn’t.
“Pat, I feel called by the Holy Spirit to do this. They have a need I can fill, and I want to give back to the place that restored my life. They said I could try it out. If it doesn’t work out, they’ll get someone else.” Then he told me his high-speed fiber optics installer job will be less than full time during the winter months and this will give him a chance to earn some money to be able to pay back court costs and restitution for his burglary and theft. As to his social life, he’s willing to put that on hold for the time being. This opportunity, he felt, was more important in God’s kingdom.
I took all my natural logic and tossed it in the waste basket by the side of my desk and responded to Tyler. “Who am I, Tyler, to argue against the call of the Holy Spirit. Let’s see what God has in store for you with this. There may be something He has in mind that neither of us can figure out right now. That’s His way.” That’s His way indeed. Tyler will start next weekend. Stay tuned to find out what God has up His sleeve. You just never know with Him, for He is the master of the unexpected.