to the lady i walked past

Dear lady I just walked past,

Sorry for not stopping to talk with you.

Sorry for not taking the time to care about your soul.

We made eye contact as I rushed past you. You were sitting on the sidewalk facing a pile of trash, slowly feeling one of the crumpled paper cups. You wore a pink hijab neatly wrapped around your head as your dress lay over your feet as you sat on the ground. 

You shouldn’t have been sitting there. God didn’t create you to ever have to sit by a pile of trash on the ground. 

I was rushing to a meeting with my squad that I was already late for. I was coming from a long spontaneous conversation with four friends in front of a mosque. Why didn’t I make you my next new friend? 

I thought of a logical explanation for why I didn’t need to turn around and go back to you. As I walked, I reasoned it out in my head. Then I continued walking quickly away so I could get back to the squad meeting in order to catch the last few minutes of the message and start worship. 

I’m sorry.

God cares about your soul SO much. and so should I.

I was selfish to be willing to only talk to English speakers about the mosque, traveling, and life. But I didn’t make room for you at the table.

I regret this deeply and my heart aches.

I wish you could know that.

Tonight, when my squad started singing and praying over the city from our upper room, I saw your face along with my other four friends I met today.

I wish I could go back and hear your heart. 

We have the privilege to sing the name of your Savior, Jesus. I hope your heard us singing. I pray you see an image of His face tonight as you dream and have an overwhelming curiosity to know Him. I pray you have a bed to sleep on, food to eat, and someone to care for you. 

You don’t deserve a spot on the sidewalk.

You deserve a seat at the table in the house of God. 

You deserve to hear the name of Jesus.

My friend just shared this morning about speaking to each person that God lays on our heart. And not walking past someone and thinking “Hmm, I should have talked with them. I’ll speak to the next person that God highlights.” No, I should act on each nudge of the Spirit. I apologize for not listening to that perfectly timed encouragement.

I ask God for conviction if I ever neglect someone’s heart again. 

I pray you come to know Jesus. He is the best friend you will ever need. He will never leave you alone on the sidewalk. He will fill you with hope and joy. Knowing Jesus means knowing the One who saved you from eternal death. And we have the privilege to worship and praise God for this loving sacrifice. There is no condemnation if you believe in Jesus. He has set you free from pain and death because He has freely given you life from His own life. 

Your soul matters to God. So it matters to me. I thank God for the heartache I am feeling now. I pray to love the next person I meet better than I loved you. 

– Sarah