My Hairbrush Story

I read Beth Moore's hairbrush story years ago.  It's the story of Beth's prompting to brush the long, matted hair of an old man in a wheelchair at the airport when she was waiting for a flight.   It's a powerful story and I think of it often when I brush my daughters hair and have to start from the bottom to get all the tangles out. 

Just a few days ago, I had my own “hairbrush story.”  I had just finished working and had to pick up a few things at the grocery store.  I was trying to hurry because my mother in law was visiting and I wanted to get home so she wasn't home alone too long while the kids were in school and my husband was working.  I'm rushing my way through the store when I notice a man in pushing himself in his wheel chair with one hand and pushing around the grocery cart in the other.  I felt a gentle tugging at my heart, and thought "I should help that man shop."  I had already passed the aisle he was in so I told myself that I would go back around and if he was still there I would ask him if he needed help.

I had never done anything like this before.  I have always wanted to "hear God's voice", but if I ever had a prompting from God before, I either did not notice or pushed it aside and ignored it.   So with my heart beginning to beat a bit faster I went back towards the aisle I had seen him.  To be honest, I was actually kind of hoping he wasn't still there.  Well, not only was he still there, but he was directly in front of the coffee.  This was significant to me because I don't drink coffee.  Whenever my in-laws come to visit I have to make it a point to buy coffee to have for them.  I had completely forgotten to put it on my list for my mother in laws visit and seeing this man directly in front of the coffee felt like this has to be God telling me to do this.

So I put my coffee in the cart and mustered up the courage to ask him if he needed help.  He seemed shocked to hear someone offering to help him as his response was "Well, if you want to."  I told him I would be glad to.  I left my own half empty cart there in the aisle and took over pushing his cart.  He only needed two more items.  The first one was simple enough.  It was just a few aisles over.  The second one, however, was on the completer opposite side of this super size store.  "Really, God?
You know I'm kind of in a hurry, right?"  I could almost hear him say "Patience, my dear child."  And as I am making my way across the store pushing a strangers cart I realize how hard this would have been for him to do this on his own.  I feel selfish for my inner grumbling of having to go to the other side of the store.  I help him get the last item and take his things up to the register.  I'm reminded of the Beth Moore story and wonder if I am supposed to ask him if he knows Jesus.  I consider just telling him that Jesus loves him, but instead I just opt for telling him to have a great day.  He offered to pay me, but I of course wouldn’t accept any money.  That's not why I offered to help him. 

I don't write this to boast about my good deed.  It just made me wonder how many times have I heard God tell me to do something, but I didn't obey?  Perhaps I need to be more aware of God speaking to me and have a willing heart to obey.  To be willing to step out of my own hurried little world and be the hands and feet of Jesus.  Imagine how many people would be blessed if each of us did just that. 

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The Super Bowl and Human Trafficking

Most of us know that this Sunday is the Super Bowl in New Orleans.  We know that 2 brothers are coaching against each other for the first time ever.  It’s exciting to think about.  But what you may not know is how the Super Bowl can have an affect human trafficking. 

Large sporting events like the Super Bowl draw people from all over.  Many of these people have significant amounts of money.  Traffickers follow money, which makes these events prime targets for sex trafficking.   This caused me to think about the Super Bowl from two very different perspectives. 

 

Superbowl Player               vs.                    Trafficking victim

Excited                                                        Scared

Cheers from fans                                         Threats from her controller

Sense of pride                                             Sense of shame

Proud to put on his uniform                        Disgusted to put on her “uniform”

Keeps what he earns                                   Earnings taken by her pimp

Admired                                                      Disgraced

Relives the glory                                         Relives the horror

I realize that there is some debate about whether there really is an increase in demand and an increase in trafficking. Critics will ask the question, “How do you know?”  Sex trafficking doesn’t come with many statistics because it is a hidden crime.  Just because they are not being caught, doesn't mean that it doesn’t exist.  Girls are usually being controlled by the pimp.  Victims often don’t seek help because they’ve been threatened by the pimp and convinced that they will be arrested for prostitution. 

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott called the Super Bowl “the single largest human trafficking incident in the United States.”

Just yesterday, eight men were arrested as part of a sex trafficking ring in New Orleans.

Here  a former sex trafficking victim shines light on dark underworld of Super Bowl

So as you prepare to watch the big game, remember those who have a much different perspective. Those who may be there by force and are having to sell their bodies. Pray for them. Pray for their rescue and restoration.

 

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