He Walks Alone.

I can usually put people in a box at first sight.
No, I’m not an undertaker, but you know what I mean.
Discern whether they are likely to be dangerous or troublesome, friendly or unfriendly, sweet or sour…

I was at the seaside the other day - walking away from the town and up a hill which, the signpost had signed, led to a path along the cliff tops.
I spotted someone heading in my direction and I immediately put him in the ‘approach with caution’ box.

He was in his thirties and had the all weather, red tanned, look of tramps and outdoor cider drinkers. He wasn’t exactly scruffy but he looked like he hadn't washed that morning and he had an unkempt beard which looked as though it hadn’t been trimmed for several weeks.
He wore a wind cheater which had seen better days but still looked reasonably clean and serviceable. He had a face that was definitely European, probably English, but yet strangely inscrutable.

I had changed his 'box' to fisherman - recently spent quite a while at sea and not had time to clean himself up yet.

Something about him made me nervous and I waited until we were almost passing before I made a comment about the coldness of the wind.
I was strangely relieved when he didn’t respond but as I walked on I notice that he had stopped and turned.

“Jesus Christ,” he said. “I’ve just been up on the tops and I was almost cut in half!”
He looked at me and it made me nervous, as if he wanted something but he didn’t want to ask.

I mumbled something in response and carried on my way.
I was shocked by the timbre of his voice, the lack of any noticeable accent and the annunciation...
it didn't fit in any of the boxes I'd been ready to put him in.

A few yards further on I remembered I had a couple of pound coins in my pocket - I don’t usually carry money - and I turned around with the thought of giving him the money for a warm drink.
He was gone!

I wondered up toward the cliffs but turned back before I reached them.
The way he had said “Jesus Christ.” had been just like he was introducing himself.
I knew that even if it had been Jesus that it wouldn’t have made any difference.
I was too used to having a place to keep me warm and sheltered, to sleep in at night; food to eat whenever I wanted; toys and gadgets to play with.

I remembered Jesus’ words to the rich man:
“Go sell everything you own and give it away to the poor and then come follow me."

When people say they walk with Jesus I wonder if He walks with them.