What would you have me do for you?

My husband, Roger, and I just got back from visiting family in Los Angeles, California. Passing several tour buses on our way to the Natural History Museum, I was reminded of my three-year stint as a tour guide while working my way through college.

I would take British tourists on a two-week bus tour through California and Arizona. Hitting all the highlights: Disney, Universal Studios, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Yosemite, San Francisco and then down the California coast. My tours consisted of British seniors who love their flowers and vegetation.  I carried a small suitcase of books and studied more for this job than I’d done in college.

Little did I know how this job would train me for the future. It required public speaking, but more than that it was storytelling. Yes, I’d studied the history, topography, antidotes of the stars, current events, etc…but the key was telling facts in interesting ways with a dash of humor. There was also keeping calm and responding to emergencies like a flash flood when the water went over the wheels of the bus. Or the time the bus broke down in the desert and it was 112 degrees and after advising not to go near the sage brush due to dangerous snakes, two men did.  And then there was the death by heart attack on the bus. But those are all for another story.

Today I concentrate on a memory of Mr. Cherry.       He always complimented his wife as he would extend his arm to proudly present her. It was as if they’d married only last year. I thought perhaps it was a second marriage.

The day before the trip ended, he confided he’d been an elevator operator all his life and had just retired. His job paid for the essentials and felt blessed his kids attended college. There was nothing extra for anything of luxury, certainly not a trip like this. He agonized all these years for not being able to give her more. “Not one summer holiday, no trips. She never complained when friends told us about their adventures.” Tears welled up in his eyes, then he smiled and grabbed my hands, “But the good Lord blessed me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I won the Scottish lottery just three months ago and now I am taking my bride all over the world, wherever she dreams to go. And I will make sure to do it right.”

I will never forget the way he looked, what he said, how much he cared.

My morning devotional was about Bartimaeus and Jesus healing his blindness.  Bartimaeus was overlooked for many years. He had no one helping him. He also felt that life was passing by and he wanted to do more. He called out, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.” Then Jesus asked “What do you want Me to do for you?”

Certainly, Jesus must have known what he wanted and yet He asked. Bartimaeus responded, “Rabbi, I want to see.” Jesus said, “Go, your faith has healed you.” And immediately Bartimaeus received his sight.

I don’t think that Mr. Cherry asked for this lottery ticket from Jesus. He might have dreamt about winning, but it was always about giving it away. About his heart and desire to honor his wife.

How would you respond to Jesus if He asked what you wanted Him to do for you?

I know I’d start by saying thank you for the blessings I have already and then I had to think further about my answer. Do you ask for world peace? For everyone to love each other? For us to help the stranger? Solve world hunger? Homelessness?

Stuck I asked Roger what he’d ask for. He said, “I’d ask what do You want me to do for You?”

I love that answer.

What would you respond to Jesus asking you this question?

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