My lunch money

I was 12 years old when I encounter God for the first time. I was going to school and I encounter a beggar for the first time. I have seen beggars on the streets before in the city were I grew. But  the difference, this time I was aware of personal contact. When I mean personal contact, it means I was aware of the old lady on the street. She was old and obviously disable. For sure, I'd passed her before couple times. But this time was different. My heart was filled with compassion and my sight was slowed to a tunnel vision that focus on her. I could not explained it. My mother would always provide some change for lunch. In my own child logic, the money would represent a handsome amount. That money was the only funds for my meal for the rest of the day.

As I approached the old lady, I understood two things. First, she needed help. Second, I would be able to eat later at home while she would be sleeping on the streets. Then, I reached into my pocket and pulled the 20 and gave it to the lady. I was happy that I was able to help her. I kept going and never looked back. Back then, I did not understand what happened. But today, I can assure you that God was present in the bones of that old lady. I placed that memory in the back of my mind for almost 30 years. It was not until I found God, that I was not able to understand that encounter.

Looking back, I understand that my conscious was guiding me to her. It overwhelmed my heart and prompt me to act out of love. At the time, I did not understand what love meant. I just knew love was a feeling. But love it is not just a feeling. It is an action. I understand that love has to exist in order for the world to exist. Therefore, God is love. I am astonished of the events that took place back in 1984.

God worked his wonders through my actions. As a child, I did not understand that. But God set a footprint that chiseled part of my soul, almost unconsciously. This is the first encounter that I had with God in the bones of a beggar old lady.

My first fight

It was the summer break of 1982. I was playing soccer with my friends. We all were the same age and lived for playing soccer. There were four of us and we all hang out most of the time. For sure, we ate, drank, and breath soccer every day. I do not remember for sure what happen but a fight broke out. I was involved in the altercation and I did not even know it. One of my friends hit me and I did not know why. I defended my self. My friend was well known for being a street fighter and better fighter than me. But that day, I had to defend my self. At that time, I was attending military school and I was trained to fight. I learned couple of Judo moves. While in the fight, I remember clearly this moves and applied them. Quickly, I took him down laying on his back. While on the floor, I sat on top of him and pinned his hands down to the floor. I could have down whatever I wanted with him at that point. Instead, I decided to make sure he understood i could had done whatever i wanted with him. He looked angry but could not move at all because the way I had pinned him down. I told him that I was letting go. Then, I got up and back out and went home. He stayed behind in the park with other kids. While walking to my house, My best friend and I started talking about what happened. We did not understand why the fight escalated so quickly and left one of my friends fighting me. My best friend understood that I did not like to fight with anyone. Suddenly, I felt this pain in my face and everything when black. The kid I was fighting came from behind me and punched me. Then, he took off running. Lot of the lady's and my mother came to my rescue. They saw what happened. Thereafter, I realized what happened. For the first time, I realized what the meaning of the word coward was. I was infuriated and I wanted to get even. Few days went by, my resentment started disappearing. I just wanted to start playing soccer again. But I knew the kid I fought was going to be there. Out of nowhere, I walked to the field and there he was. Everyone stopped to see what would happen. Instead of fighting, I grabbed the ball and started playing. Then everyone join into the game. The feud was over and playing time was all we care about. Looking back at this time, It made me realized that our conscious tell us what is right from wrong even when we do not know God yet. I learn compassion is the best medicine for avoiding conflicts. I learned that forgiving is more powerful that hitting someone. Therefore, people that do not know God were given a conscious to guide them in life. But some times as humans, we rather look away and go with the flow of things. But that is why Jesus came to earth, he came to teach us to listen to God and not to the flow of things or the world. Listen to what is telling you and go against your costumes. It is more important to have mercy than have costumes. The enemy will always whisper and tell you that you are better than anyone else, that is your way, pear pressure you, seek your weak spots to make you fall.