Out of Gas or Divine Intervention?
By John Verderber

At the beginning of Great Lent last spring Fr. Andrew suggested that the church doors be unlocked from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm on weeknights when no services were being held. He hoped this would give parishioners, as well as visitors, the opportunity to come in to St. Luke Church to pray, read, or just sit in the quiet of God's House. I offered to unlock the church doors on those evenings and welcome people who came to enjoy the solitude, just as I was doing

Nothing very eventful happened during that time, that is, not until the Fifth week of Great Lent on a cold, gloomy Monday evening (April 2nd). Just before one of our parishioners was to arrive to chant the Psalms, a tall, red-haired man with a thick brogue entered through the church doors looking as though he had a problem. As I greeted him, he related to me that he had run out of gas and needed to call his friend. While we waited for his friend to arrive, the man asked me many questions about the Orthodox faith. He told me that he was Catholic and believed that the Pope was the head of the Church. I gave him literature to read about the Orthodox Church.

In the hour that ensued we discussed icons and their role in the church, as well as chanting versus reading. I explained that when we chant we are singing praises to our God. I then asked the man if he would like to read from the Bible, and he said he would try it. To my surprise, our visitor started chanting instead of reading. Chanting was difficult for him, but as I practiced with him, his chanting improved.

Soon the man's friend came in and sat down to listen. (She later told me that she was a non-practicing Catholic). When the man finished his chanting, I told both of them keep the literature I had given them. I also invited them to come to a scheduled service to worship with us. Then they left.

Just when you least expect it, God surprises you with "a pop quiz" which actually tests your own knowledge and faith, and gives you a chance to evangelize. Some people might just see this as a coincidental situation and say, "Well, the guy was just out of gas and St. Luke Church was the nearest stopping place." However, other people who have had similar experiences may just well interpret this as Divine Intervention. Was the Monday night visitor really "just out of gas" or did God intervene to fill the man's empty "spiritual tank? What do you think?