The Upside Down Kingdom at 7-Eleven

God’s Kingdom is backwards from the way our world works. “The first will be last” or “That you must die to live” are ideas so contrary to the way we live that we often easily forget. This week Chief Executive Officer, Josiah Haken, got a reminder, at 7-Eleven:

We got some snow Monday. You may have noticed. And by “some” snow, I mean a “crap ton” of snow. Tuesday our team was shoveling at our base in Elizabeth, NJ, to make sure that we could get our outreach vehicles to the people we serve each week. As I was heading out the door, my wife asked me if I could stop somewhere for milk on my way home. After pillaging her purse for cash, a $5 bill and two $1’s, I agreed.

After uncovering my Honda Accord, I drove to work through some really icy and narrow roads. I made it to our base and got to work. About an hour later I had to make my way home for some virtual meetings. As I was about to pass a 7-Eleven, I remembered my wife’s request: milk.

I managed to park, put my mask on and went inside. On my way inside, I made eye contact with a man shivering by the front door who was clearly in search of cash donations. He was an older black man with eyes that were sad and blood shot. He was wearing something that masqueraded as a winter coat, but that wasn’t fooling anyone. I had a very specific objective and decided to give him the change on my way out. So I nodded and told him I’d get him on the other side.

I found the milk and decided to get half and half while I was at it. The total bill came to $6.70. I reached for my $7 and remembered the man outside. In a moment I decided to pay with a card and I pulled the $5 bill out. As I walked out the door, there he was.

“How are you doing, man? You hanging in there? Staying warm?”

“Trying to,” he replied. As I handed him the $5 bill I asked him what his name was.

”Marcus.”

”Marcus. It’s nice to meet you, I’m Josiah. Hang in there, man.”

I walked over to my car and put it in reverse. My car didn’t move. I was stuck. My tires spun and spun and I just sat there. As I was getting frustrated, I saw Marcus making his way to my car.

Marcus shoveled around my tires. Shouting instructions as he did. He ended up working with me for 20 minutes, single handedly pushing my car all the way to the street. As I slid out of the parking lot, I rolled down my window down and shouted, “You’re my hero!”

People living on the street aren’t beggars who choose to stand in freezing temperatures with inadequate clothing hoping to accept handouts from strangers who are actually “making a living.” These are men and women with hopes and dreams, strengths and weaknesses. Just like you. Just like me. The only difference is that life played them a terrible hand and they had no family or social net to catch them. 

I tried to find a way to help Marcus without any clue that just a few moments later, I would be the one “in need.”