the car wash boy

“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the One who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” (Mt 10.40-42)

3 jan 07 – Cerro Azul Beach, Peru – I've just been stung by a sting ray – we are having lunch in the restaurant, and as the burning creeps up my leg, up comes of group of about 4 men – all Peruvian, except for the taller, lighter – skinned one – his accent made me think he was from Spain. He’s a bit older…is he their mentor? Why do I think he’s a priest? There are no outward trappings; no robes, no crucifix – nothing quite so obvious.

We ordered lunch; they ordered lunch. A little boy about 8 or 9 comes into the restaurant porch where we are sitting. “¿Tienes carro que puedo lavar?” I had a car, of course – but the girl at Union Church washes it every Sunday ... we’ll be there in a few days – so “no”. He falls off my radar.

We resume our family conversation. The waiter brings our food. Several minutes later I notice the waiter bringing food to the Spanish man’s table … and a plate of food to the car wash boy, who is sitting next to the Spanish man. The Spanish man is chatting with him, asking him questions. The car wash boy is enjoying his lunch … a very nice lunch for a car wash boy.

It’s amazing how many things can flood your mind in an instant; it takes so much longer to write them down. All of the sudden i realize:

the car wash boy was hungry
he didn’t want to wash cars, but it might help him feed himself
i saw him as a minor intrusion on family time.
the Spanish man saw thru the question
the Spanish man must be a priest – his job is people – caring, looking for guys like this – he loved the car wash boy

The priest will not lose his reward – he received the car wash boy and offered him what he himself enjoyed … an 8 year old dining in the company of adult strangers. If the Spaniard IS a priest, he lives his faith better than I do. Woe is me! My life is too fast – too cluttered with things that blind me to those around me. How many opportunities like this have I been presented with in my 25 years in Peru?

The car wash boy will not remember me – I dropped off his radar as soon as he dropped off mine. The car wash boy will remember the nice man who bought him lunch – he will remember him forever. And God will remember them both. I will too…as a memorial to my insensitivity and blindness. I did not have enough love to invite Jesus to my table.