I’ve often said that the most gratifying thing someone can say to me is how surprised they are to learn about who I used to be. Most of the time, this happens when someone who knew me before tells someone who only knows me now just how bad I truly was.
But it turns out I was wrong, because I’ve had an even more gratifying experience recently.
As I was preparing for the third wave of new arrivals for the day, I noticed a name on the list that made me wonder if it was the person I thought it might be—someone I had known very well during a time when I was at my worst. In fact, he and I had committed a few very serious, very violent acts together. I couldn’t be sure it was him, but I was hopeful, as we were pretty close back then.
When they entered, I immediately recognized him, but he didn’t seem to recognize me. I started talking to the group, making sure to make eye contact with him, hoping he would recognize me. But he didn’t. After a minute or so, I looked at him and said, “What? You don’t remember me?” He looked back at me, shaking his head no, so I said, “Bro, it’s Ryan. Chops.”
If you’ve never seen a Black man turn white, let me tell you—it’s something you’ll never forget.
He truly looked like he had seen a ghost. He just couldn’t understand how the person standing in front of him could possibly be the person I had just said I was. He stood up, and we shared a long hug. As he sat down, he looked at me and asked, “Bro, how is this YOU? This can’t be YOU!” My answer was simple, but also so profound: “God, bro. It’s all God.”
We’ve since spent a couple of weeks together, and I’ve been incredibly blessed to be used to encourage this brother. I hope I’m the vessel through which the seed the Spirit planted in his heart years ago is watered. It’s deeply gratifying to see him reassured by the absolute certainty that if Jesus can transform someone like me into something new, He can do the same for anyone!
