The Battered Easel

On a daily basis, people who lament not knowing how they can work in God’s harvest fields call our Pastoral Department. Not all are called to preach the Word, and not all are physically capable of going door-to-door to pass out Christian literature. I generally ask probing questions to see what they might do and end up encouraging all to share their testimony and to intercede in prayer for others. But Sarah’s* story reached my desk this week, and her simple strategy to share God’s Word captured my attention. Here it is—in her own voice:

“This was the second summer I had displayed Christian materials (booklets, coloring books, and pens) in my front yard. I simply set these items on my child’s easel just out my front door, with a sign that announced the materials were free for the taking. My neighbors were drawn to the display, and most days, items of interest had been taken, and I was pleasantly surprised.

“One particular day, as I set up the display, I said an extra prayer, asking for God’s blessings over my little neighborhood ministry. From inside my home, I heard a group of young boys and glanced out the window to see them reading the sign. Good, I thought, they’re looking them over! Moments later, I looked outside again and was stunned to see that the easel and all the materials had been carried away. They couldn’t have gotten too far with that bulky easel! I’ll catch up with them, I thought.

“I dashed out the door to the nearby park, and sure enough, there was the easel, battered and broken, and all the literature was flung carelessly around it. Not far away, I spotted the little rascals on their bikes. They peeled off in the other direction when they saw me begin to pick up the pieces of their mischief. Disheartened, I returned home. How could You let this happen, God? I even prayed a special prayer this morning!

“I propped the lopsided, unsteady easel against my wall and tried to smooth out the pages of the books. There was a knock at the door, and to my surprise it was one of the culprits.

“‘I’m really sorry for what happened, ma’am,’ he began. ‘I was with those boys today, and one of my friends grabbed your easel and all the materials and chucked it when we got to the park. If you want to press charges, I understand.’

“‘Well, it was nice of you to apologize,’ I said as I waved him along. I didn’t care to talk to the boy. I wanted to talk with God.

“Turning to my kitchen sink, I began to wash my dishes and pray. Lord, You know this has triggered bad memories of the past when I had my car vandalized; and then again, when I had things stolen from me. I don’t feel safe right now, Lord. This has opened a can of worms from the past. My heavy thoughts are crushing the joy out of me. Help me, Lord. Help me process all these negative feelings. My stomach is in knots. I can’t even eat. I don’t want to harbor these feelings in my heart, so help me to forgive those boys. I know You are in control. Do You really care about my jumbled feelings? Comfort me, Lord! Help me to feel safe again.

“A spiritual battle was raging in my mind, but suddenly, the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance what the Patriarch Joseph said to his brothers who had sold him into slavery, ‘But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive’ (Genesis 50:20). Then I remembered what King David prayed, ‘My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me for Your mercies’ sake’ (Psalm 31:15–16).

“Just as I clanked another clean dish into the dish drainer, I thought I heard a knock at the door. Oh, please don’t let it be, Lord, I thought, as I wiped my tears away and froze. But yes, there was the knock again. At the door stood the same boy, now accompanied by his mother.

“‘Are you okay,’ she asked in a motherly manner. ‘Tell me what happened.’

“‘Oh, I’m fine,’ I tried to sound cheerful. ‘Don’t worry, I was thinking about something else. I can repair the easel and use it in the future.’

“‘I’m not convinced things are all right,’ she said as she looked into my reddened eyes. ‘Can’t we, as neighbors, just vent or whatever? I have absolutely nothing going on the rest of the day. Really! Absolutely nothing. I would love to talk with you.’

“So we talked. About the broken easel. About how sad this made me because it was the only way I had to share my faith at this time.

“‘Oh, wow! Wait a minute—that’s what I do, too! My son and I were out earlier in the day, passing out literature. May I see your books?’ she asked.

“God was up to something. My neighbor and I discussed our beliefs, and she expressed her interest in reading some of the literature I had. In a red-hot second, I had given her three books and we exchanged phone numbers. God definitely was pouring out some of the comfort I had asked from Him.

“‘Oh, let’s stay connected on a weekly basis,’ she said, giving me a big hug before leaving.

“I’ve repaired the easel as best I could and it sits outside my door with more literature. I’m excited to see what God has in mind for His next move. I want to tell these boys I have forgiven them, and learn what their interests are. Perhaps the Lord will use me to direct them in a positive way. And I’m anxious for my upcoming weekly follow-up with my sweet neighbor—my new friend.

“Thank You, God, that You are more powerful than the enemy and that You are working ALL things together for my good, just as You promised in Romans 8:28.”

Sarah’s story proves God’s plans cannot be thwarted. He calls to us to be His harvest laborers.  The lesson is to step out in faith and do something—even if it’s just along the edges of the field.

*A pseudonym.