Living in Coeur d’Alene, he’s a frequent sight. In the summer he can be found clad only in a pair of shorts, no shoes no shirt, wandering the streets. Sometimes he can be seen sitting on a curb. Other times he’s standing or walking down the middle of Appleway Avenue being a danger to himself as well as those driving. Last week, he was at Seltice and Highway 41 in Post Falls.

He’s not like most of the homeless who might have a bicycle and a backpack or possibly a shopping cart with a couple dogs, a companion and a destination in mind. This man carries nothing with him and seems to have no purpose or goal in mind. I’ve noticed folks giving him sacks of fast food and hugging him as he sits on the curb. Some yell at him, most ignore him.

Last Sunday morning he was on Government Way. It was 29 degrees and snowing. He was wearing shorts, tennis shoes and no socks, a T-shirt and a clear plastic trash sack for a rain coat. Again the police were talking to him.

Something about that scene unexpectedly grabbed me and has gripped me deep inside and I can’t even say what it is. A wise friend’s comment was the guy in the clear plastic trash bag was a “word” from God. Such as it is when God “speaks.” Sometimes it’s the words in our Bible that speak to us, we memorize them or plant them in our hearts. Sometimes He speaks to us through His creation, leaving us speachless from a sunset or seeing the wonder of a new life. Sometimes He uses people in the most unexpected of ways. In any of these “Words” from God, we have the opportunity to respond. We can be angry and yell at Him, we can dodge Him as if He were an obstacle in traffic, we can even ignore Him. Sometimes we respond in ways in which we surprise even ourselves, hands in the air praising and thanking Him. Sometimes we’re not even sure how to respond we just know something’s moving in us.

“For whatever God says to us is full of living power: it is sharper than the sharpest dagger, cutting swift and deep into our innermost thoughts and desires with all their parts, exposing us for what we really are. He knows about everyone, everywhere. Everything about us is bare and wide open to the all-seeing eyes of our living God; nothing can be hidden from Him to whom we must explain all that we have done.” Hebrews 4:12-13. (TLB)

What’s important is that when God “speaks” we pay attention. In this we have hope.

Bruce Macek is pastor at Newman Community Bible Church (Wildwood Church), 9230 Sagle Road.