Chapter 2

I need to share an experience that I had a few weeks ago (December 2, 2022). One evening, my family went out leaving me alone at the house. I decided to go out for supper and do a couple of errands while I was out. The only thing on my mind at the time was my shopping list. I headed out, not knowing where I was going to eat. There are several restaurants between my home and the grocery store so I figured I'd just stop at whichever sounded good as I went by. As I approached Del Taco, I thought that sounded good. I'm always up for a cheap, Mexican meal. I pulled in and headed inside (not a drive-thru fan). I ordered my food and sat down and then...BAM! I was hit with the Spirit like I've never been hit before. I suddenly found myself with a heart full of compassion and love for each person in that restaurant. I'm not talking about the Christmas spirit or I generally like these people, I mean I believe I saw them as our Savior sees each of us. I looked at each person and desperately wanted their souls to be saved and I could feel incredible love for each of them. All of these strangers. I couldn't contain my emotions. I hid my face, wiping away tears. As each new person entered, I felt like I knew them and loved them with all my heart. It was a high like I've never felt before in my life.

To be clear, this is not usual for me. I'm a full-fledged skeptic and too often live on the cynical side of life, especially when dealing with human beings. I love punk music, I'm from the east coast, and I trust hardly anybody. Just want to make the point of how strange this was for me. This feeling remained for the whole time I was there. I tried staying composed, but that feeling was so powerful. And it wasn't a weepy kind of crying. It was a joyful cry. Like pure happiness. I basked in it. Fortunately, I recognized it was a message from the Lord and so I was going to enjoy every second of it. Every face I looked at, I wondered who they were and how amazing a person they must be. I wondered what their struggles were, what pain they felt, who they wished they could be. All I felt was how important they were to God. This is charity! I've never understood charity very well. Like I said, I'm a distrusting person and charity is so hard for me to truly understand and show. It was so great to finally feel it. I'm sure I've felt it with my loved ones around me, but never with people I don't know.

But my lesson wasn't over. Shortly before I finished eating, it occurred to me that my thoughts were pure. In this state, I realized I couldn't sin in that moment. I was so filled with charity and that pure love of Christ that why would I want to? I could just tell my mind and heart were different. I had a perma-smile on my face and I was so happy and so loving. The Lord gave me a live demonstration of how to be perfect like Him. I've always wondered how can I do it? How can I be perfect or at least be ready for that baptism of fire? He showed me exactly how I can think and feel and live. I knew I couldn't sin right then. For the briefest of time, I was perfect.

Well, I finished eating and drove over to the store as that feeling continued. The high kept going and I just kept telling myself, enjoy every second of this. I know it's going to end. As I shopped for the food I needed, it slowly faded. By the time I got home, it was over. While I was parked at the store though, I quickly wrote down a few things about the experience because I did not want to forget anything. It was a message that I never want to forget. I know the Lord showed me a small mercy that night. Lately, most of my prayers have been centered on repentance. And not just asking for forgiveness, but also asking how to repent correctly. I pray to God often to teach me how to repent so I can approach Him and His Son. I think I'm getting better and I needed this lesson. Because I don't forgive quickly and am too critical of others still, it can take some time to get that forgiveness. But I'm glad I now understand how we can truly be like our Lord and how we'll feel towards others when we become closer to and more like Him. It was a beautiful experience. So the next time you're near Del Taco, why not grab a street taco and see what happens? Can't hurt.