The Girl In The Pink Sweatpants

I can’t stop thinking about her. She was wearing pink sweat pants. She was on the side of Frederick Rd, near Ingleside in Catonsville last night. She looked to be young, maybe early to mid 20’s and from her countenance, I thought she was probably drunk or high.

I was sitting a few cars back at the traffic light and saw her step out onto Frederick Rd a few times, waving her hand and appearing to be talking to someone in a car sitting in the traffic. But she was stumbling, and her eyes were half-shut. So were mine, but for different reasons. I was tired, not feeling well, on my way home from a rehearsal, excited to be closer to getting home and getting in my bed. I thought about pulling over and talking to her. I thought about where I could take her, what she might need. I wondered what her name was. I began praying for her in my car and eventually the light changed.

In an instant between doing something radically nonsensical or just doing me, I decided to do me and kept on going on my way home. I could give you a list of reasons that would sound rational, understandable.. reasons that would make you feel bad for me. Oh Tracey don’t be so hard on yourself. Oh Tracey, you were sick and needed to get to bed. Oh Tracey, you can’t save everybody.

But if you’re going to feel bad for me, feel bad about this. I didn’t listen to God. I believe the Holy Spirit May have been prompting me to help this woman and I brushed it off. The Kingdom of Heaven was trying to break through and I shut my ears. I read once that Mother Teresa vowed she would always say yes to Jesus. She wanted to live a life of radical obedience to Him. So do I… unless I’m tired and not feeling well apparently. Oh my heart aches that would tell Him, “not today, Lord.” I never want to choose my comfort over kindness. There is really no reason to do that because the fruits of the Spirit, like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness.. they have a way of nourishing us when we pour them out to others. Now I know God has His people and He will get His work done- but I surely want to be one of those who always says “yes, Lord.” If He is indeed my Lord, “yes” is the only acceptable answer. Would you pray for the girl in the pink sweatpants today? He is still for her. So am I.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
-Jesus, John 10:27

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
-Paul, Galatians 5:22-23