nwyc: atlanta - day two, part 1

It was the wee hours of the morning today...

I had left my comrades in our presidential suite room and headed down to the mezzanine (what a fancy word) to try to get my computer to work better. Rather, I was trying to get the internet connection to work better. I had ten minutes worth of stuff to do that ended up taking me two hours.

The good news, though, is that God apparently had some plans for me.

As I sat there, by myself at around 1:30am, another gentleman sat down. "Every time you think you're all alone someone comes to spoil it, eh?" he said with a smile.

"Oh, that's fine, man... no problem."

He settled into his space and began chowing down on some late night food. After a bit he asked, "So where you from?"

Ah... I realized this was a God window. I shut my laptop... dang it... really needed to send that email.

"I'm from Ohio these days... I grew up in the Chicago area, though. How about you? Are you traveling through?"

"I am actually headed to Florida," he said. "I'm from the Milwaukee area originally."

And so we chatted... he asked what I did... I told him... then he started talking about God... I listened... and then I talked about my story... he listened... and God's Story... he listened.

Somehow we got to a place where he felt comfortable to share something with me. Something that he's never told anyone. Something that deals with his sexuality preferences.

Wow. Wasn't expecting that one, God.

Somehow, though, this wasn't a conversation about "that." Rather, it was a conversation about the journey he was on with God. Again, not because I was talking shop but because he would say things like, "I wish I could be delivered from this... I want to be, I really do."

Wow. Wasn't expecting that one, God, either.

And so we talked... and I shared a few thoughts from the Bible (which I happened to have with me). We read through Genesis 1 and 2 together, for this is how God made us originally to be. Anything from chapter three on is all but a distorted picture of that, whether it's heterosexual or homosexual. Sure, we could argue one is more distorted than the other, but I find that while its easy to point out homosexual sin we often tend to excuse the heterosexual lusts many know all to well as "natural."

Anyway, this isn't a post about "that." It's a post about a conversation, because here's the kicker...

somehow in my sleep-deprived state (having just come off of ten hours of travel, with only three hours of sleep the night before, and three the night before that)...

he saw something.

Or rather, Someone.

"Can I just tell you something?" he began. "You have this... I don't know how to even describe it... it's like you have a beautiful spirit about you. I mean, I've never talked to anyone about this before and I feel like I can talk with you even though it's an awkward topic. You're such a beautiful person inside and I can't even tell you why. Does that make sense?"

Wow. Wasn't expecting that, God.

At the end of the conversation, he wanted another one. In fact, he'd like to take me out to eat with he and his "friend." I told him, "Sure, but just so we're clear, God does have a plan for your relational life and that's where I'm coming from. That doesn't mean He doesn't love you if you fall short in that, so if we get together again are you cool with me staying in that place?"

"Absolutely," he said.

So we'll see.

Oh, and I think I swung another three hours of sleep... somehow getting through the day.

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (Colossians 4:5-6)