What I Learned From Woodrow

[My Atheist, Hitchhiking Friend]

Guest Post: by Kyle Reynolds

Most days, I don’t think of God at all. I’m too busy doing church work. God becomes book ends to my day as I pray before going to sleep and when I wake. No wonder he feels like a cop on the side of the freeway I momentarily reduce my speed for as I pass by. You can’t have much of a relationship with a God like that. I know this doesn’t sound very Christian, but it’s the truth. Lately, my faith feels like it’s on life support.

Maybe that’s why I pulled over.

Last week, I was getting on the freeway and I noticed a hitchhiker on the side of the road. I never stop for these guys because I have an overactive imagination and I’ve seen too many horror films. However, for some reason, this time I did.

Woodrow threw his backpack in my SUV and hopped in. He was a happy-go-lucky twenty-two year old from Texas making his way to Spokane. We immediately hit it off. Woodrow had a lightness to him that was refreshing to be around. I felt my guard lowering and I laughed freely. Our drive turned into him coming to a book club with me, then pizza, then playing poker with some friends until late, and then crashing on my couch.(1) We talked a lot about his travels, the church, hypocrites, writing, and even Jesus. The conversation was always easy and even whimsy.

The next morning I made Woodrow hash browns, toast, and a latte. I prayed for him and then dropped him off at a local Starbucks for him to continue his journey. As I drove away, I kept praying for him because it was raining and I was worried he would have trouble finding another ride. Then it dawned on me that I had been talking to God all morning and the whole night before. I had been asking God all sorts of questions, looking for his guidance and thanking him for helping us. In fact, I had been thinking of God all day long. I could hear the faint heart beat of a faith being brought back to life.

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. – James 2:15-17

When I used to read the above Bible passage I always took that as a negative warning, but lately I’ve started to see that passage as a hopeful invitation. See, if faith without works is dead, we could logically conclude faith with works is alive, right?

That’s why I pulled over. I want a faith that is living, breathing, and active. I long for a faith that matters and makes a difference. I don’t just want to read about mountains moving, water walkers, and a relational God but I want to step into the adventure Jesus offers us all. I want my love to be extravagant, my hands to be generous, and my faith to be reckless as I follow a God that has picked up even someone like me. I want to risk and care and give to the degree that thinking of God is like breathing. I want to follow Jesus and I’m pretty sure this is where He’s going.

I’m not saying if your faith feels lifeless to go pick up a hitchhiker. However, if we were honest why we don’t pray, its usually because we don’t have much to pray about. We work so hard at making life predictable, safe, and controlled that we leave little room for faith to stretch, grow, and matter. I learned from Woodrow that faith comes to life in the risky, uncomfortable, adventure of caring for others. I believe Jesus when he said,

“Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake, will find it.”(2)

Or as Woodrow put it, “Into the wild, my friend!”

1. The answer is yes to your question by the way. I do have the most supportive and understanding wife and mother of two young boys ever.

2. Matthew 16:25

About The Author:
Kyle Reynolds is the director of young adults at Crossroads Bible Church in Bellevue, Washington. He graduated from Northwest University with a degree in youth ministry and is slowly getting his Masters of Divinity from Multnomah Seminary. He has been a full-time vocational minister for the past 12 years within various denominations. He even started and stopped a church a few years back but that’s a whole other story.  

Kyle is married to a sassy girl named, Laura and they have two boys, Lincoln and Sawyer.  

He enjoys speaking, writing, playing cards, and a glass of Mac n Jacks. Oh, and he’s still surprised daily by God’s grace. If you’d like to know more, ”like” his Facebook page or follow him on Twitter.