Reach Out The Window

Sometimes, you come upon a story that changes your perspective.
One such story happened a few weeks ago.
It changed the perspective of many people.
It spurred them on at a time when news stories seem to be getting worse instead of better.

It all happened in Vancouver, Washington.
A woman was going through a Dutch Bros. drive-through window to get some coffee.
It was a familiar scene for the baristas at this little coffee shop.
Except this particular day it would be different.

The 37-year-old husband of the woman at the drive-through window had died the day before.
As she was ordering her coffee, she lost all composure.
Baristas Pierce Dunn and Evan Freeman realized what was happening.
They immediately knew what to do.

There’s nothing more you need to say. We got this.
We’re going to do what we do every time we get someone who’s in pain or hurt.
We’re going to give [you] our love. (Evan Freeman)

They reached out the window, took her hand, and prayed for her.
That small act of kindness would never have been known if not for the woman in the next car.
She saw what was happening; she saw the kindness and love shown to this grieving woman.
She snapped a picture of the scene with her camera and posted it on Facebook.

The picture went viral.
Under the picture was a caption.

Snapped this picture while waiting in line at the Dutch Bros. on 138th Avenue today. Turns out the young lady in line ahead of us lost her 37-year-old husband last night. When the DB guys & gals noticed she was falling apart, they stopped everything and prayed with her for several minutes, invited her to come back for prayer and support, as well as anything else that she might need. Prayers for the young family, and you know where to stop for coffee!

One small act.
Mother Theresa of Calcutta was a missionary who served the poor in India.
One of her quotes has never left my heart.
Go out and do something small for God.

Pierce Dunn and Evan Freeman and the other workers at Dutch Bros. did just that.
They did something small for God.
In the process, they helped a grieving widow.
Their small act of love and compassion challenges us to go and do likewise.

If every single person did an act of kindness or had a smile on their face every single day, the world would be a completely different place. (Pierce Dunn)

Steven Curtis Chapman captured the essence of what happened in his song, Let Us Pray.

I hear you say your heart is aching
You’ve got trouble in the making
And you ask if
I’ll be praying for you, please

And in keeping with convention
I’ll say yes with good intentions
To pray later
Making mention of your needs

But, since we have this moment
Here at heaven’s door
We should start knocking now
What are we waiting for?

Let us pray, let us pray
Everywhere in every way
Every moment of the day
It is the right time

For the Father above
He is listening with love
And He wants to answer us
So, let us pray

So when we feel the Spirit moving
Prompting, prodding, and behooving
There is no time
To be losing, let us pray

Let the Father hear us saying
What we need to be conveying
Even while this song
Is playing, let us pray

And just because
We say the word, Amen
It doesn’t mean
This conversation needs to end

Let us pray, let us pray
Everywhere in every way
Every moment of the day
It is the right time

Let us pray without end
And when we finish, start again
Like breathing out
And breathing in, oh, let us pray

Let us approach
The throne of grace with confidence
As our prayers draw us near
To the One who knows our needs
Before we even call His name

Pierce Dunn, Evan Freeman, and their co-workers lived out this truth.
They saw a need.
They met that need with loving kindness and compassion.
They brought that need to the Father in prayer.

They did a small thing for God.

We miss moments to pray with someone every day.
Sometimes we’re just too uncomfortable to pray right there and then.
However, our comfort level has nothing to do with anything.
What are we waiting for?

The need is now.
The problem is right in front of us.
The heart of another is hurting.
The situation can’t wait.

Even with the best intentions, we forget to pray.
Life happens.
Demands and responsibilities get in the way.
We need to stop what we’re doing and pray.

It only takes a few minutes.
The ripples of our prayer extend farther than we could ever imagine.
Our tender prayer and humble heart before the Father speaks volumes to a hurting soul.
It shows them that someone cared enough to listen to them and to pray for them.

Often, we just want to fix the problem.
That is not our job.
God is sovereign; God is in control.
Our prayer recognizes that and lays the situation at His feet.

Don’t be afraid.
Reach out the window and grab a hand in prayer.
Bring the person to the Throne of Grace in confidence.
Love them as you intercede for them to the Father.

Be joyful always. Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

What are you waiting for?
Reach out the window.
Grab a hand in prayer.
Do something small for God.

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To watch the video of what took place at the drive in window click here.