I had wanted to meet him. I was told he was going to be at the wedding I was attending. I love to meet old sages at anything, but especially servants of God. He had buried his life in Timbuktu in Mali West Africa. I had heard Steve Saint tell of the story of meeting the pastor of the church he founded. Steve shared the man's testimony of coming to faith in Christ. It was a balled punctuated by stolen vegetables, a scriptural memory club, a bic pen and the grace of God. And as Steve took delight in telling, a narrative on how the man had heard of the story of the martyred missionaries in Ecuador-one of whom, of course, was Steve's father Nate Saint.

The man is showing his age with the lines having fallen to him in pleasant places. His wife's white hair and sweet disposition were both signs that time and God's grace had moved her on towards the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. It was a delight to meet them and talk to them.

Timbuktu is in Mid Northern Mali close to the Niger River. Muslims not able to go to Mecca for the hajj can substitute a trip to the old mud mosque in Timbuktu, Mali. Sankore Mosque has seen its share of visitors. It has been a by-word destination for the West for the obscure and the extremely out there place. I remember in the eighties at Southgate when we were making some videos to promote our missions conference we all loaded up on a bus in the midst of shooting a "rap" of all things, and the sign they displayed on the back window of the bus was 'Timbuktu or bust!"

He shared stories at the table with another couple from our church. I think Joe and Jan were as enthralled as I was. Given three couples from Southgate in Mali and having heard of this couple, I had always wanted to talk to them. But it was the intersection of two veterans, the love of the body of Christ and generosity that made for a delightful turn in the conversation. Let me explain.

Good friends of theirs are good friends of mine. They had served with their mission in a neighboring country in West Africa. Clearly there was a lot of mutual affection, respect and appreciation for the collective representation of faithfulness in the lives of these four.

The sage I was with that night shared how recently their colleagues had driven through their town on their way to visit family in another part of the state. The errand also included a change out in cars-oh life's mundane necessities. Their friends were driving a car that was kept in good shape and was clearly in stead for some more miles. They inquired as to the destiny of the vehicle. Their friends told them that it was to be used to trade in on another vehicle.

In passing, the brother from Timbuktu noted that he would be interested in the car. A brief conversation ensued about possibilities. Price may even have been discussed. Both couples slept on the matter in the midst of a nice visit catching up on life and godliness.

But the next morning was the kicker. Generosity broke out in supple proportion. The Timbuktu couple got emotional as they told me the story. Agreeing to the transaction, special instructions were left for how this would go down...with specific detail on not reading the terms in the envelope until after their departure (now some of you are just a little ahead of me in the story at this point).

The note was one for the ages-one of those notes that you read and never forget. It was a note about generosity, which has a particularly delightful shelf life in the spirit. The note recounted the selling couples gratitude for a life time (many of them were listed) of kindnesses and moments shared of great encouragement. With a measure of emotion, the brother shared how the last paragraph closed. You know now. The car became a gift. It was a generous gesture celebrating friendship between old vets who had labored together and nearby in a cause that will last forever. I do not think they will ever ride in a car that they more appreciate. It is what it represents that matters. It was a monument to fellowship and affection in gospel ministry and of course, to generosity.

The apostle Paul calls Jesus Christ an unspeakable gift and sets the bar of generosity where none of us can reach. But as footnotes on His generosity, you and I can step up and be generous to each other. Oh, it may not be over the top like a car, but there are a million and more ways for us to be generous...and all the while imaging just how God is disposed toward His own.

All right, who is it going to be? To whom will we share generously today?