RICHARD

September 15
Bus bound for Asheville, NC

A full bus forced me to sit next to an older man, dressed in bright colors and smelling quite strongly of marijuana. I was extremely tired but every time I closed my eyes he would start talking so I came to the conclusion I would just have to go without a nap.

Richard introduced himself as a man who was private and soon after he began spilling out his life story...

He had been in Ohio at his sister's in Cincinnati after not having seen or talking to her in over 40 years, The family tracked him down because they're parents had passed away and they wanted him to have his part in the inheritance. While he was visiting she told him that all growing up their father rapped her and his older sister, and Richard never had known. Of course back in the 50's sexual abuse wasn't heard of and the woman were taught to stick by their husbands, leaving the men to do what they wanted while the family faked a smile. He could hardly stand to think of it and expressed such hated for his parents, that his dad was "such a pig" and that his mom knew and let it happen.

He told me at a very young age he started stealing, by age 12 he'd robbed jewelry stores and stolen cars, therefore he wasn't home much, at least not enough to catch on. After years of stealing he finally got caught for armed robbery and was locked up for 19 years. Once he got out he settled into a new town and never contacted his family, until now...

He didn't take much from his parents, he mentioned they were wealthy but he didn't want anything from them, especially now so all he took was he his old stolen jewelry. He even pulled out a bag of watches to show me and gave me a couple of them. "I'm not like I used to be so I figured I might as well give this stuff away.."

So now I'm rocking a 'vintage' gold watch he stole back in the 60's :)

Richard and I talked a bit about his world view as well; I shared the gospel with him and my testimony but he was persistent in telling me the only logical solution is reincarnation, that I was blessed because I'd been a good person in my other lives... But as all 'new age' believers say, "You believe what you believe and I'll believe what I believe and someday we'll make it to Heaven." As I tell everyone else, "I'll pray for you and I believe the Lord will prove himself to you, like he did to me."

PRAY restoration for his sisters, that Jesus would heal their heart wounds and fill them with His abounding love. Pray Richard is confronted with the Truth of the Gospel, of Jesus, that he needs a savior and that he would fully commit his life to God that he might be able to minister to his sisters and forgive his parents.