Shaheed has one tooth, zero legs and countless stories to
tell.
He sits in his wheelchair holding a change cup outside of the
Rite Aid on my way to work. Most passersby pay him no mind, myself included,
until God called me out.
I stopped into Rite Aid for a few things on a rainy morning and
quickly gave him my dismal change while shuffling back to the car. About a week later, I felt the Holy Spirit speak to
my heart.
“You could have given so much more. Why didn’t you stop and
talk to me?”
It was the best wake up call I've received. I packed up
my favorite daily breakfast (two pieces of sprouted grain toast with almond
butter, flax seeds and banana slices) and prepared to step out in faith.
I sat down on the sidewalk in front of Shaheed and asked for his forgiveness. I
apologized for practically ignoring him a week before and asked how he was
doing. Gentle and quiet yet cheerfully grateful, he accepted my breakfast and
offer of prayer. We held hands, and I prayed a blessing over our new friendship.
That was a week ago. Neither of us could have prepared for
what God did today.
This morning, I took my seat at the foot of Shaheed’s
wheelchair, and he completely opened up about his life, from being raised by
his Seventh-Day Adventist grandparents, to an adolescence of drug abuse and false success before serving in prison, to how he lost his legs (and dreams of pro boxing) in a fatal drive-by shooting - Shaheed was pronounced dead after being in a coma for 11 days. But God wasn't finished with him yet.
He chuckled a bit while explaining that after his recovery, the Holy Spirit started working on his ego, and Shaheed knew that he would have to surrender
every part of his being and submit to Jesus. I chuckled when he said, “It
actually didn’t hurt as bad as I thought it would!”
As he spoke, a heavenly passion radiated out of him, and I
sensed that Shaheed was telling me his story because he longs for it to be
known. While making it clear that my intention was not to exploit him, I
offered my videography skills. I told Shaheed I would be happy to record his
story and share it with the world.
His face lit up.
As we celebrated this opportunity, I suggested we
pray together and asked Shaheed to lead. He took my hands in his and gave thanks to God
for a new friend who sees him “differently.” I continued in praise after his
prayer, and when I opened my eyes, tears were streaming down his face.
In a flood of emotion, Shaheed shared that the woman he considers to be his mother did not speak to him for several years because she was disappointed in him. When they finally
reconciled just last week, he promised her that he would tell his story, in the hope of it
saving someone’s life. After making the promise, Shaheed wondered how he could fulfill it.
He said that one of his favorite passages in the Bible is
Matthew 3:17 when a voice from heaven says, “This is my Son, whom I love; with
him I am well pleased.”
Shaheed yearns to hear his mother say, “Son, job
well done.” I believe that when she sees our video, he will hear those words.
We both cried in the realization that God had brought us
together for a purpose. I went into Rite Aid to buy a few things (including Shaheed’s favorite orange soda), and when I walked back out, a woman was talking
to him.
His face was still in awe of God’s handiwork as he told Maria about our video idea. She also became
excited and said the three of us should pray together right away.
I smiled and closed my eyes as Maria transformed into
full-on prayer warrior, hands lifted towards the sky. She prayed to cancel
Satan’s assignments against us. She prayed for blessing over our lives and
plans. She prayed words of praise to Jesus Christ, and I stood with my arms
outstretched, delighting in this amazing kingdom moment. What a sight we must have been
to see on the busy street!
After spending a total of thirty minutes in conversation
with Shaheed and being thoroughly late to work, we decided to pray on our video
project over the next week before trying to start it next weekend. We want God’s
will to be done – He is the director and producer!
Shaheed requested that we film in Asbury Park, where the home
he grew up in still stands, and where many of his memories, good and bad, stem
from. The first apartment I lived in as a baby also stands in Ocean Grove, the
next town over. I’ve been in Asbury and Ocean Grove the past two weekends and
will be again this weekend. I have always felt a divine peace there,
and it’s starting to make sense.
For the past two years, I’ve been desperate to discover my calling
as a follower of Christ, rarely meditating on the simplicity of joyful (and
sometimes nerve-wracking) obedience to His voice. When God has His hand in
something, you just know.
I am Shaheed’s answered prayer. And he is mine.
Written by Elyse Jankowski
Community Relations Associate
