I had been hitchhiking around the country and living on the streets, searching for answers. I was fortunate to meet Rabbi Yehuda Ferris at the Berkeley, California Chabad House. A loving and non-judgmental person, he turned me on to Shabbat.

After living in Berkeley, it was time to move on, and I was committed to keep Shabbat. I decided that if I should be hitchhiking on the road at Shabbat, I would stay there with my pack till after Shabbat. I arrived in Boulder on a Friday afternoon. I found the address of the local Chabad House and proceeded to walk the few miles. I still had a good three hours until Shabbat began.

But when I finally arrived at the address there was no Chabad House, but a huge office building. The Chabad office was already closed for Shabbat. I should mention my appearance: I had long dreadlocks with a Tibetan bell attached, a scraggly beard, tattered, painted pants and a very exotic shirt from India, which had Sanskrit written all over it.

I saw an elderly woman sitting at a desk in a financial firm next to the Chabad office, and asked if I could use the phone. She asked me in a curious tone, "Are you a religious Jew?" Seeing me knock on the Chabad door, she was confused by my appearance.

I told her I was Jewish and trying to be religious. "Oh, that's wonderful!" she exclaimed. "I'm a born-again Christian and I think you Jews are the greatest!" She let me call the Denver Chabad House. They told me that they staff the Boulder Chabad office only during the week, but not on Shabbat.

It was too close to sunset to get to Denver so I proceeded to call all the synagogues in the Boulder phone book. They simply laughed at me.

My problem was not that I needed a place to stay, but rather a place to leave my backpack, as I would not carry it on Shabbat. I had lived on the streets for a few years and knew how to take care of myself. My main concern was not to violate Shabbat. I always carried along candles to light, and grape juice for Kiddush. I finally spoke to one person who told me I could leave my pack if the janitor was there.

The woman in the office offered to drive me to the synagogue. I was very relieved, because I had only an hour to Shabbat. We went in her new Cadillac to the synagogue, only to find it locked.

At this point I decided to forget it, throw my pack in the bushes and retrieve it after Shabbat. The woman wouldn't hear of it, and invited me to celebrate Shabbat at her home! I was amazed by her kindness, but said we had to hurry.

We arrived at her beautiful home not a moment too soon, and she introduced me to her husband. I immediately lit candles and then prayed. They put some food together for me; I was vegetarian and was not strict then about keeping kosher. They talked to me about five minutes about their religion. I said that I was just starting to get into my Jewishness. "Absolutely, it is important you learn about being Jewish," they agreed.

They then informed me that they were leaving 6:30 am next morning to North Carolina. I asked them to let me put my backpack in their backyard, and I'd retrieve it Saturday night. "No, no," they exclaimed. " We want you to stay. Here are the keys, stay as long as you like. It is our honor to be able to serve a Jew and help him."

Here I was, coming to a new town where I knew no one. I looked like a freak, and this wealthy, elderly, non-Jewish couple invited me into their home. And they really didn't try to convert me, but encouraged me to learn more about being Jewish, and keeping Shabbat.

What more could I ask of G-d? He showed me what He is willing to do to help me keep Shabbat, if I am willing to make the commitment.

G-d is not far from us. He is close and involved in every aspect of our lives. If we simply let Him in, to be a part of our lives, He will do things for us beyond our imagination.

Reprinted with permission from the Ascent Quarterly: http://www.ascent.org