Push or Pull?

There is a dynamic in human relationships called push-pull. Push is me calling them and pull is them calling me.

Well, today cruising a dusty Texas highway I asked God if I should push or pull in a particular situation. We can ask God these things because in Proverbs 19:20 He says, “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end,”My spirit said to pull but I am always one to push the envelope in an effort to make things happen. I figured God would show me one of those dump-trucks with a sign on the back that says “Do Not Push” verifying what I am hearing Him say. You’ve seen those signs, right?

I know I am being told not only do not push but more specifically to pull. I am like ok, God show me the word pull. Be specific speak “pull” to me. It will be too easy to find a truck anyway that says Do Not Push. Hearing or seeing the word pull is more difficult to find on the highway than the word push and it will tell me it is you speaking God.

Nothing happens right away. A short while later a guy nonchalantly walking along the shoulder of a four-lane highway as if he is discouraged from contemplating how much more leather can he wear off of his already worn-out shoes on the pivoted and bumpy pavement as cars whirl by him at speeds in excess of 75 mph  kicking up a desperate wind in this poor-guy’s face. This guy needed a lift and did not even put up his thumb knowing no one picks up hitch-hikers these days and rightfully so in case my children are reading this post. It looked like the opening scene from Rambo when Stallone was asked to leave town by the crusty, small-minded local police-officer for simply being an aimless pedestrian.

Something tells me to pull over and make this guy’s journey a little easier. I ask my unknown passenger what he does for a living, his reply, “I’m a puller.” I say, what?? He repeats, I am a puller. I pull incoming orders from the warehouse and put them on a pallet to be shipped.

I have never heard someone describe themselves as a puller. Steppenwolf has a song “The Pusher” used in the movie Easy Rider that refers to a drug-pusher. No one even says pusher anymore. They are simply called “dealers” these days. But puller? On my journey I learn there are pullers in this world.

Although the Lord served this shy veteran well today because he got a ride to the train station, I was served equally well when God used this modest man whom was unlikely to be offered a ride to verbally speak the word “pull” to me. The guy is a puller.

I like to think I am a creative writer of some sort yet I could not make a story like this up. At the end of the day, I’m just a guy on journey but I’m a guy that enjoys the counsel of the One that created me. God speaks. God speaks loud and clear. I got my answer today. Today, I too am a puller until my next instruction from “The Man” (respectfully) upstairs.

Push? Pull? Whatever it is, just ask. He will show you.