As I headed out of town for a late afternoon nature hike, I saw a man walking alongside the road about a mile east of the roundabout on 166. He carried what at first seemed to be a gas can, making me wonder if his thirsty vehicle was close by or miles away. As I got closer, though, I could see that it wasn’t a gas can; it was a lunch container.

“Wow!” I thought, “what a lousy way to end a day of work; having to walk home.”

I slowed down as I passed him and pulled over onto the shoulder and waited. I lowered the window and as he got up to the car, he leaned over and looked in. “Where you headed?” I asked cheerfully.

He replied, “Lou Ann’s Trailer Court, out near Parkerfield.”

I invited him in and pulled back out onto the highway. He told me about his day of work and pointed out where I should turn next. As things turned out, it wasn’t even slightly out of my way. The ride saved him three or four miles of walking and made the afternoon better for both of us. He got out of the car at his home, thanked me and added one more thing before he closed the door, “God bless you.” “You, too,” I responded.

If a cup of cold water given in the name of Christ does not lose its reward, I’m pretty sure the Lord can make the occasional free lift for a sojourner worth my while.

H. Arnett
10/18/18