A neighbor's teenage son borrowed a piece of equipment from me last year and brought it back damaged. He was very apologetic and assured me that they would be willing to pay for it to be fixed, so I had it fixed and placed a copy of the bill in their mailbox with a note indicating that they could pay whatever they thought was fair. I never heard back from them other than once in an unrelated phone call, I heard the father telling the son to tell me that they were going to get a check to me but that was 4-5 months ago.
When I see them now while I'm out walking or working or driving, it seems like there's some sort of invisible wall or distance between us. I still wave or nod my head if I'm carrying something and mostly they do too, though it seems at times that they must not have seen me. But it feels different. We don't just stop and talk the way we used to. I'm thinking it may have something to do with them feeling discomfort from not having done what was promised or irritation with me for asking for something they don't think they owe me. It could be any number of other things as well, or my imagination even.
It occurred to me this morning that this might have something to do with why I sometimes can't find the time to pray. I feel the weight of having done or not done something I needed to do or not do, and can't bring myself to face up yet. I'm so glad there are stories where Jesus just reached out and loved on people who never would have dreamed that he would give them the time of day, let alone seek them out in such a caring way.
Us lonely prodigals need that.
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