Who Is My Neighbor

Your Neighbor Is Who God Puts In Your Path.

Final full day on the work site and I've still got a thing or two I want the students accomplish, including pulling up some ugly holly bushes from the front of the house. So first thing after lunch, I place all 6 of the students in the front yard with the instructions, "Holly bushes have to go!" After passing off leadership to Anna, the whole gang (students, adult staff, next door neighbor Bobby, and myself) starts working HARD!

I'm a little engrossed in the work, but all of a sudden I realize a man has come up and is saying something to the students. I tune in as he is repeating his request:
"I'm sorry to have to ask, but I just spent all of my money on a bus pass down here to pick up my medicine at Walgreen's. All I need is four dollars for the co-pay. Could you please help me?"

Instant reaction was denial. A small shrug of my shoulders and mumbled apology, "I'm sorry, I don't think I can help." I don't tend to carry cash on me very often, and after 23 years of being told to be "safe" I hit auto pilot whenever anyone on the street asks me for something. As I look at my fellow workers they are giving similar responses, and they are probably being honest - they were told not to bring any money or valuables to the work site.

Then I hear it. "Your Neighbor is who I put in your path." and I remember I have a little cash with me today.
"Hold on sir, let me go check and see if I can help you out."

As I walk to the backyard where we dropped our backpacks I take stock of the situation God has pulled me into. Four dollars, not a big deal right? Then why has my first response so easily become 'no'?
I pull out my wallet and find 3 crisp five dollar bills. Pulling one out, I fold it in my hand and head back to the front yard.

I hear it again. "Your Neighbor is who I put in your path, and most often they need more than just money."

I'm about 10 steps away and find myself holding out the five dollars. "I just happened to find a five."
"Ask his name." - "What's your name sir?"
"Arthur"
"Pray for him." - "Very nice to meet you Arthur, is there anything that we can pray for you for?"
"Just my health please."

Now that I've quieted God's voice in my head by taking his prayer request and praying for him silently, I'm about to send him on his way. I see out of the corner of my eye a student watching and then take a step forward.
"Can we pray for you right now?" he says. 

"Sure" comes the timid response from Arthur.

The student lays he hand on Arthur's shoulder and they bow their heads together. As the students words are lifted I also awkwardly bow my head and place my hand on his arm. Beside us the team begins to notice what is happening and the tools and scuffling stops. I realize the whole team is silently praying from where they stand. 

When the student finished praying, Arthur headed on his way and the team got back to work. However, not even 30 minutes later I see Arthur headed back down our street waving a white medication package.
"I got my medicine, thank you so much!"

I know nothing else about Arthur or his story.

I do know that for that day Arthur was my neighbor.