An old gentlemen carefully boards the city bus and finds a seat next to a tired young man. As the bus twists and turns through the city, the two start a conversation beginning with the typical introductory questions. “What is your name?” “Where do you live?” “What do you do for work?” They find that they have a lot in common. The old man is a retired minister and the younger man is also in a helping profession. The minister shares stories about God’s greatness and goodness revealed throughout his life. The young man also loves God and has many memories of God’s working hand; however, the young man begins to share that he has spent many years following God in service of a severely broken humanity only to come to place today where he feels extremely fatigue, beat up, empty, alone and forgotten by God. The old man listens intently and replies by saying, “I was once young but now I am old, and I have never seen the righteous servant forsaken by God. In fact, God promises that those who refresh others will be refreshed.” The old man continues by quoting Isaiah 58:10-11 which states,

If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.  The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well watered-garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Also, Galatians 6:9-10 which states,

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

The old man points out the promises and then highlights the importance of abiding in Jesus and depending upon him to provide everything the young man would need to carry out his call to service.  The old man explains that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help, strengthen and comfort his people and uses various means to accomplish this.  Sometimes through fellowship with others.  Sometimes through quiet and solitude.  Sometimes through the reading of scriptures.  Sometimes through music.  Sometimes through nature.  To name a few.

The young man agrees and acknowledges that talking to the old man has made him feel a sense of comfort, rest, renewal and blessings.  They both begin to laugh and praise God for his faithfulness to his promises.  The bus stops and the young man squeezes by the old man.  He says, “goodbye” and walks away as a refreshed servant.