Riding with Joshua

Passing by, heading towards the setting sun

There was a man standing with a duffle bag, sign, and an American flag

Slowing down, I told him that I wasn’t on a long run

Without hesitation, the man loaded his gear and casually I noticed his dog tag

As I read, Joshua on his tag, he thanked me for the lift

He stated that “after thousands passed by; I thought that I’d have to walk”

He couldn’t believe that he had to stand there half the day, verbally wondering if the world went adrift

As I drove, I listened and heard lamentations, frustrations, aggravations and just plain talk

Then the wander enquired if there was any good left in the world

“Are there any decent people who don’t think about just themselves?”

“The world is going to pieces” and more and more agitations he hurled

He turned and looked at me and stated that “God will have his revenge by the Twelves”

“What do you mean” I asked, calmly allowing the nomad to express his grief

He then replies “God will allow me to destroy all the cities, I need to reinstitute his will”

“I may show up during the day and wage war, or take the city in the night like a thief”

“Native, foreigner, child, and mother, all have forgot goodwill”

He continued stating that many people over look the poor

“Yesterday a man pleaded for food, and it took two hours before someone observed”

“Then a few days ago I saw a woman fall in the store”

“Many looked away, and only two construction workers came, yet they underserved”

“It’s time that the fire of God reigns upon this land in the rain of fire and brimstone”

“It’ll be a newsworthy event, and all of this was granted to me by a simple saying“

Then I interject, “Are you sure this action is something that God, and good morals would condone?”

Continuing I say, “it sounds a little rash, unnecessary, outright mean and dismaying”

Then just a few short miles away from where I picked up this drifter

We passed a penitentiary, I pointed out the signs that were abundantly placed

I pointed and read the sign out loud “DO NOT PICK UP ANY HITCHHIKER”

Then we laughed, and I could see in his eyes that his prior arguments were now abased

“One out of a few thousands, is still one” I stated

All you could hear was the gentle hum of the engine and the rhythmic sounds of tires on the road

The silence was golden as my hitchhiker friend reflected

“Love one another” this is what I’ve been told.

I pulled up to the truck stop to drop off this man

His anger has ceased and turned inward, gradually he seems more content

I ask him, “Where are you heading, or do you have a plan?”

He turns to me and stated, “I was going to Jericho, but now I may circumvent…”

Twenty years later I was reading the newspaper and a headline caught my eye

As I read, I realized Joshua did go to Jericho, but this time with a completely different intent

Headline read “Healing in Jericho: Joshua Nunson’s contribution saves hospital with ample supply.”

Leaning back in my chair, I smiled and thought to myself what a real newsworthy event.