Stopping Places

This is the story of a modern-day exodus experience. Ten year old Josiah was ready for another adventure with his friend Mr. Jack. They had become close buddies the previous year as Josiah had been part of a Colorado outing with several other boys to benefit the Kurdistan people of Iraq. Once when Mr. Jack had preached in his church he showed the pictures of these women and children and how they lived. Josiah had wept. He just couldn't hold it back. He didn't feel too badly about crying though, because, even as Mr. Jack had shared their story and pictures at the conference, he had cried too. As a matter of fact, Josiah thought that maybe there hadn't been a dry eye in the church. But when Josiah had left the church that day and throughout the whole next day, he just couldn't get the Kurdistan people out of his mind. Meme' had told him what the word 'quickening' meant. She said that it was when the Spirit of God breathed on a word, or words, that had been received and planted inside of us, and they came alive for some purpose in the heart. She said that if we cared for those words, like precious seeds, rather than ignoring them, plants would grow, and, in God's timing: fruit. She had told him that, no doubt that was what God had done in him. Though it wasn't exactly a good feeling, he was happy to hear that the LORD had spoken to him. He knew that he had been privileged. Since that time he had felt a burden to donate what he could to help out with Mr. Jack's project. He didn't often get money, but it was surprising how little was needed to accomplish something. It was clear, even to Josiah that money amongst the Kurdistan people stretched further than it did in the United States. He always felt good about his giving and was ever trying to come up with plans and ways to make some money for these people whom he had never met and who seemed to live in his heart. He loved the way Mr. Jack called them an ancient people. That sounded so honorable.