Praying For An Open Door

I take out my camera to snap a photo of the barbeque where Jessica had been adding condiments to each set of buns.  To my surprise and delight, she had drawn hearts out of the ketchup and crosses out of the mustard.

A voice to my right cuts in:  "Why don't you take a picture of me?"

I turn to see a smiling, albeit partially intoxicated young man.  We snapped a group photo and he introduced himself as Vinny.  

Here's some of his story: A few years before he had been arrested in Isla Vista once on an outstanding warrant (no, I didn't ask).  He did his time at the local juvenile prison camp for boys and successfully graduated their GED program.  Cool.

He told me he was in search of a job--no small task for a young Latino man with a criminal record. 

"I would love to pray for you about that," I said.  "Would that be okay?"  

He paused, gave a good-natured What the heck? shrug and nod and then bowed his head with me--his three friends waiting in the wings.  I prayed boldly that God would open a door for him and that he would find favor and opportunity.  His friends quickly got into it, nodding and adding their un-churched version of "Amen." 

They all seemed pretty stoked.  Vinny gave me a hug and thanked me and they disappeared back into the street.

Pray for the young Latinos of Isla Vista--that God would transform their lives and give them a hope and future through Christ.