As I zoomed past the remaining vestiges of Kansas City suburbia, I remembered taking this same drive to the same event eight years ago. On that occasion, I stopped and gave ride to an aging fellow hitch-hiking his way to an eastern destination. This was really nothing new for me - I often gave rides to those brave enough to ask. But in recent years I have taken very few solo drives and haven't had much of an opportunity.
As I remembered that eight year old event, I wondered if I would have the chance again today. Thirty minutes later, and halfway into a very interesting teaching podcast, I spotted a tall man, wearing shorts and sandals, carrying a heavy backpack, and sporting crazy blond hair, walking on the shoulder of the interstate. A whisper from God? Maybe. I slowed down, pulled onto the shoulder and stopped a ways in front of him. He nonchalantly walked up to my window and quickly responded to my offer for a ride. When he heard I was headed to Indianapolis, he was elated!
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| My friend Shawn, at the truck stop. I hope you made it to your family! |
As we pulled onto the Interstate, Shawn introduced himself and told me he was traveling from California back to his family Pennsylvania. He couldn't afford the $382 bus ticket, so he hitch-hiked. Interestingly, one of his chauffeurs out west was also a pastor. It had been a slow stretch through KC, and hours earlier a police officer had given him a ride through the metro and let him off at a truck stop. After getting no offers for a ride, he just started walking. Shawn is a year old than I am, but he has many more stories to tell than I do. He is a true surfer dude, having worked in surf shops, Starbucks, and for tree trimming services all along the California coast. He even used the word "gnarly" in a conversation. He shared his successes and his pains, his beliefs about Jesus, and his view of life. Along the way, I bought his dinner, and then dropped him off at a truck stop just outside of Indianapolis. I hope he is riding his way to his aunt's house right now....
Why did I do it? Shawn needed a ride. I had a car with an empty seat. We were both headed east.
I think my life is better and richer because I met Shawn and shared a few hours with him. We listened to a sermon podcast by Andy Stanley and he seemed to enjoy it. I tried to encourage him. I hope he feels like his life is a tad richer because he met me.
Was it safe? Most people would say, "NO!" But based on what? I have researched it and there is just no good evidence that suggests a high rate of violent crime surrounding hitchhikers. In fact, the only formal study was commissioned by the California Highway Patrol in 1974, in which it was found that hitchhiking was a factor in less than 1% of crimes in the state. The patrol concluded that reducing hitchhiking would probably not reduce crime. Did you know that in 2010 there were over 3,000 deaths in which distracted driving was a primary factor? (in other words, texting while driving, or even answering a call and talking on the phone while driving) So if you pick up a hitchhiker, you are more likely to kill yourself (and the hitchhiker) by talking on the phone than you are to die at the hands of the hitchhiker.
Sometimes I wonder if we have allowed safety to become an idol, keeping us from doing anything significant with our lives. I wonder how many times we refuse to do what is best and just outright disobey God because we falsely assume he wouldn't ask us to do anything that is remotely unsafe. But last time I checked, the old rugged cross was anything but safe. Should everyone pick up every hitchhiker they see? No. Should we be smart about it? Yes. But maybe we shouldn't immediately dismiss the notion either. And maybe, just maybe, as we follow Jesus, we should take some risks!
