Stranded At Subway

I must say getting stuck at Subway today with no car, no money and no cell phone taught me quite a bit. Each moment that passed brought another thought reminding me that I am truly blessed because what I was experiencing as a two hour misfortunate situation was someone's daily life experience.

I got to the counter at the store only to realize that I didn't have my debit card on me so I ran out to my car to get it. Only to realize that not only did I not have my debit card but I also did not have my keys which were sitting on the floor inside of my locked car. Thank God I had my cell phone so I could text my husband to ask him to come pick me up. And thank God I was able to get a few texts and a response from him before, yep, my cell phone died.

So there I was without transportation, money or even the ability to phone a friend. I prayed that my husband had all of the information he needed to come rescue me and then walked into the Subway restaurant to settle in for a two hour wait.

I settled into one of the tables, sat my dead cell phone down on the table, put my elbows on the table and my chin in my hands. It wasn't so bad at first as I am a people watcher at heart. So I was entertained for about 15 minutes and then my stomach started to growl. It was lunch time and I had only had peanut butter and banana toast for breakfast. Any other day I would have walked confidently up to the counter and ordered a combo meal but not today. I sat there smelling the freshly baked bread and watched others sit and devour their meals.

I was reminded of the many times I had gone to Subway before and walked past a homeless person sitting out on the curb. Or even walked into the restaurant and found a homeless person sitting quietly with their bags at one of the tables. For me it was only two hours and help was on the way! For them this was an everyday situation.

If I'm honest, which I am, I secretly hoped someone would ask me why I was just sitting there so I could tell them my story and maybe, just maybe, someone would offer me a cookie but that wasn't my fate. Matter of fact not only did no one offer me anything but it was almost as if I was invisible! People would walk right past me and not even look my way. Amazing! No one "saw" me. It was as if I was not even there. No one cared what my name was, where I worked or where I lived. No one knew or cared about my new Single coming out on Friday. None of that mattered now. It was as if my whole identity and value to society was locked inside of that little red Pontiac Vibe GT sitting in the parking lot.

So I sat there. Wondering if anyone would see me and ask me my story. I thought about the millions of homeless people in the world. People who had names, families, lives lived before the day they became stranded on the streets. People with degrees, money, homes, cars, hobbies, gifts and callings. People that had stories to tell but no one to tell them to.

The day just seemed to be passing me by one slow minute after another. I didn't even know what time it was and wouldn't find out unless I humbled myself and asked one of the restaurant employees as she passed by me for the third time. To proud to even ask what time it was. Wow life has a way of humbling you. And asking "what time is it" is NOTHING compared to some of the things I can't even IMAGINE people living on the streets have to let go of pride to do.

I sat there and I thanked God.

I thanked God that I was even allowed to sit inside of the clean, air conditioned restaurant while I waited. If I hadn't "looked right" I may have been asked to leave. I could have been stranded out in the middle of no where in the heat of Phoenix, Arizona with no one to call and no place to go.

I thanked God because I had a husband on his way to pick me up. A husband that was thinking about me, concerned about me and loved me so he was on his way. A husband that wouldn't call me stupid or make me feel bad about my situation but would pull up any minute, buy me food and walk me to my car and let me in with his key. Hug me, kiss me and say "see you at home". How many homeless women dreamed of that happening every night?

I thanked God because I had a car, a comfortable, cute, sporty car with a full tank of gas and insurance sitting out in the parking lot with a purse holding a debit card with money on it and keys waiting for me. How many people wish they had a car to get locked out of? How many women wish they had a purse with a debit card and keys inside that belonged to them? How many people wish they had money in an account that they could access with the simple swipe of a debit card?

I thanked God because when I got in my car I was going to drive to my beautiful and comfortable home to get some rest before I headed to church for mid-week Bible Study and to fellowship with hundreds of people that know me by name and love me.

I was grateful.

When I saw my husband's shiny new car pull into the parking lot and he stepped out (looking GREAT by the way) it was as if everything went back to normal. I was someone again. Someone saw me. Someone knew who I was. Someone spoke to me. I was Angela. I was loved. I had a life to get back to. All of this was temporary. For me. But for someone else this was everyday life.

As I drove home I prayed. "Father, please wrap your arms of love around every homeless person. Let them know that YOU see them, that YOU care and that YOU will provide for them. Let them know that they have a purpose and you have a plan for their lives. Send someone to talk to them Lord. Send someone to ask 'do you need anything' and give them the humility to be honest and say 'yes I do'. Remind them that regardless of what they have or don't have they have a story. Send someone to ask and to listen so that they remember that they do exist and that they matter Thank You God for seeing us and knowing us. The same way that my situation turned around for me turn it around for them Lord. Make a way. Send someone looking for them with provision in their hands. . Thank You Lord. I will never forget how blessed I am. Thank You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen."