Good News for Britney

I should have known the rental car price from Budget for my trip to Texas City was too low. But instead, I thought I was just an astute bargain shopper—until I landed in Houston and arrived at the rental counter, only to discover that my “deal” was for an electric car.

You see, no one wants electric rental cars, and the rental companies are selling them off as fast as they can. I got one of the few they hadn’t unloaded yet.

Which brings me to the moral of this story. While I had never charged an EV before, there was a Shell station with high-power chargers right across the street from my hotel, and I gave it a shot. I pulled into a slot, hooked up the cable, scanned my credit card, and—voilà—we were charging. Estimated time: 40 minutes. (Mental note, this is why people don’t want electric rental cars.)

To kill time, I walked around the building and on the backside I met Britney. She was sitting against a cement barrier, shielding herself from the wind behind a large trash can at the back of the Shell station. She was obviously homeless—dirty, gaunt, her teeth rotting away. But she was young, probably in her twenties, not an old woman. I don’t know how she filled her clothes.

When I first saw her, I just walked by and smiled, heading inside the Shell to grab something to eat. As I scanned the usual gas station selection of burritos and hot dogs, a wave of guilt rushed over me. That girl was probably starving. Literally. So I picked up a big bottle of water, a burrito, a chocolate milk and walked outside.

I slowly approached her and asked if she was hungry. She smiled and said yes. Her teeth were brown and broken, but there was still a dim sparkle in her eye. I handed her the food, and she immediately pressed the warm burrito to her hands—it was cold outside. She said, “thank you sir.”

I told her to stay safe and not to give up. I instantly felt stupid saying it, but I said it anyway. And then I walked away.

By then, my car was fully charged, so I saddled up and headed back to my hotel. But my poor choice of words nagged at me. So, after replying to some emails in my room, I decided to go back to the Shell station, hoping to see her again, hoping to find better words. But when I arrived, she was gone.

For some reason, as I stood there, I started thinking about faith. And I thought to myself: if there isn’t good news for Britney, then there is no good news at all.

You probably aren’t homeless, but maybe you’ve had days where you felt as hopeless as Britney looked.

This is for Britney. And this is for you. It is the Good News I live by.

Good News for Britney and for All

Our Father intends that all shall be saved. One act of righteousness given for all.

As Adam died, so shall all of us. But through the sacrifice of the Innocent One, you will be given life.

Especially you. Though the least, you are the greatest. That is his promise.

You see, Christ descended and ascended and drew all up to Him, especially the littlest ones. An atonement for your sins, my sins, and the sins of the whole world. He has overcome death and given all of us life.

Face your fear with hope. This is only the beginning.

Our pain will be understood, and we will stand together in eternity.

Yet, writing this, I feel so hollow. How do these words do anything to ease your hunger, your pain, your trauma, your despair? Will they keep you safe tonight? Only a fool would say yes, for you have had many nights where you prayed for peace and received nothing but the assault of demons.

Maybe these words are just for me, for my own reckoning. Maybe they will offer you some comfort. Comfort or not, I believe our Lord came for you. He went into the desert and emerged for the poor in spirit, the meek, the hungry. If not you, then no one.

You might just be a saint—a beaten and bruised young woman, relying on the mercy of a stranger for a meal. There was no begging, only stillness. And in that moment, I felt shame for not doing more. I hope you felt a glimmer of grace and a moment of peace. Maybe even love.

I could not accept a heaven where I don’t see you there. I don’t believe the Man who was born in a manger and sent to save the world could either.