https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/crossroads/#like-245712

Sometimes we are the Crossroads for a person in need. The Crossroads between Life and Death. Health and sickness. Not on brag on myself but it is only God in me. Here is what I mean. Last year a pregnant African co-worker was being bullied by a supervisor. It hurt me to see her crying. I immediately called our Union Rep from Downtown and continued to make a hue and outcry to Shop Stewards plus Human Resources. I was outraged at the inhumane treatment she received. Sad to say the abuse came from certain white female supervisors. You’d think another woman would be compassionate. Not so.

This young lady could have been my daughter carrying my grand-daughter so I had to act. I could have kept my mouth shut but to me being a Christian calls for action. It requires that you stand up for those who for whatever reason cannot stand up for themselves. Plus I gave her my cell number so she could call or text me. I got the other women in the locker room to raise their voices also. Things began to turn around.

Activism is like fire shut up in my bones! My voice will not be silenced! I just can’t leave it alone and I will not leave the battlefield until I see results.

Good News: My African co-worker had a healthy baby girl early April 2016.

Listen

On one of my earlier vacations this year I went to a museum where one of the guards struck up a conversation with me. I too am a museum guard so we had something in common. Feeling at ease this gentleman told me he was 81 years old and still working. He took out his wallet showing me a photo of him as a young man. Then he began to speak of his beloved wife who had passed away about five years before. They had planned their retirement together but the cruelty of death took his dreams away. I did ask him if he had children which he does. Adult children. They encourage him to find someone else but as he said to me that someone else would not be her. The way he lovingly described her touched my heart. Having never been married I could not judge. It was not my place to judge but to listen. Work keeps him alive but he really wants to be reunited with his soul-mate/Life partner. In a way I understood him because my parents were married for 40 years when my Dad died, three years later my Mom joined him. That was their destiny to be reunited once again in Paradise. Sometimes the best thing we can do for people is listen and try to understand, to put yourself in their place. Their feelings are more valid than our opinions.

Compassion

Recently I came to work early as usual and found one of my male co-workers sitting outside the locker room crying. Another co-worker was trying to comfort him. Frightened that maybe he was sick or needed medical help I asked if I should get help. My co-worker assured me No so I too rub our tearful co-worker’s back and gave words of encouragement. I came to find out later that the poor man has colon cancer and that his father had committed suicide. Whoa! Dear Lord!  Immediately I began to pray for him and confided in a few trusted co-workers who believe in pray and who would keep an eye on him. Basically Don’t want him to follow his father’s path.

When at the Crossroads we are at the foot of the Cross

I don’t know why but many times God has put me in the pathway of people at a crossroads. Different races, religions, faiths, ethnicities. Personally even though I was born and raised as a Christian I feel no obligation to force my beliefs on other people. God does the saving. One God. Many Pathways. God created humans. Humans created religions and often barriers but I believe the Lord wants us to be open to all who need us.

My parents were not particularly religious. They were not church goers however I remember the many times I saw my Mom help a neighbor in need, the lady next door who had just lost her husband, kind words & deeds. My Dad who reached out to many family members who needed his help. In return when we needed help neighbors just came over. We did not even have to ask.

When that the God calls me home I want to hear him say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

Gabriel Hardeman Delegation – Feels Like Fire