Hi again, I wanted to share a quick story with you.
Today as the lunch line began, I found my old friend, Benjamin, coming out of the line. (He's featured in an earlier post if you're curious). His eyes were cast down, and he was walking slowly. I called out to him, and he lifted his head. As our eyes met, a smile streched across his face, and he excitedly walked over to me. "Oh my friend, I haven't seen you in weeks, and I've been searching for you." I assured him that while I could not be there every day, I was always there in spirit, and he was in my prayers everyday. He smiled his goofy grin with a mouthful of food, and nodded "That is very good." He said.
My heart overflowed, but then it got me thinking. How often in life are we the Benjamin's? I don't know how often I find myself asking God "Where have you been? I haven't seen you in weeks, I've been searching for you." Whether we realize it or not, we as humans search for positivity, for happiness, and ultimately for Christ. So often we spend our whole life searching, that we forget to lift our eyes up from the ground, and if only we did we would see the beauty that lays in front of us. Just like Benjamin is always in my prayers, so too is God always in our midst. So next time we find ourselves searching, let's lift our heads and our hearts, and open our ears. Maybe that will be the time we hear God saying "Oh my friend, I've been searching for you, where have you been?" Maybe the one time we lift our eyes, we will see the angels among us.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Praying with the faithful
Hello, I hope this finds you doing well. Life sure does get busy quick, and makes it hard to find time to serve and to write, but I am so excited to be able to sit down and share my heart with you today!
For the past few weeks, I haven't been able to find time to see my homeless friends. I found myself thinking of them often, but also found myself in a bit of a funk. I felt more negative than usual, and disconnected from God. This weekend, I decided I needed to make it happen, and I was going to find time to go see them one way or another.
Since I couldn't make it Saturday, I decided I would go today. I haven't been to Loaves and Fishes on a Sunday before, but I'd heard they had mass, so I went to check it out. As soon as I walked in I got emotional. They had transformed what was normally a small dining hall into seating for about 50. The hall was bustling with boy scouts, and other groups that had come to join the mass, and volunteer at lunch after. Looking out the window, was a line quickly forming of mostly men, and a few women, eagerly waiting to get in. Some were dirty, most came already sweaty from the heat outside, they all had the few things they owned with them, but they all came with the biggest of smiles.
As they began to enter THEY greeted us!! They came in and shared hugs, and handshakes as they filled the seats one by one. A few minutes later, Catholic mass began. Have you ever been to a church where it felt like everyone was trying to be perfect, and judging you on your every move? Yeah, me too. Well this my friends, couldn't have been more different. Everyone in there was so genuienly happy to see each other, and so welcoming. Throughout the mass you would hear "Amens" and "Praise God" as different parts of the mass spoke to the people. I have been in many Catholic churches were I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, but I have been to very few where I felt it as strong as I did today. During the sign of peace, the homeless walked all over the hall greeting their friends excitedly. Yall, I am telling you, if more people were excited to be at church on Sunday's like some of these people were, the world would be a very different place.
By the end of mass, I'm pretty sure I had gone through an entire pack of kleenex, because the emotion and joy of witnessing Christ at work in these people's hearts was overwhelming! Next up was lunch time.
As soon as the mass ended lunch began to be served. I headed out to my favorite place outside and waited for them to come. Within minutes, the familiar faces began to pour onto the patio. Once again, I got emotional as the hugs started. You never realize how much you mean to these people until you don't go everyday, but more importantly, I never realized just how much they meant to me. It took me a minute to realize my heart had been aching for the past several weeks to see these people; to see my friends.
I was reminded throughout lunch of the great glory of our God. These people, who literally have nothing were quick to offer me their water, their dessert, or their seat. It made me wonder, could I share like that if I were in their shoes? Do I share like that now, having more than enough? Then I realized, once again, that was the beauty of God working through these faithful people.
We shared the beauty of the mass, a meal, many laughs & countless hugs. My heart is so full today, and I am reminded that indeed, there is always angels among us.
For the past few weeks, I haven't been able to find time to see my homeless friends. I found myself thinking of them often, but also found myself in a bit of a funk. I felt more negative than usual, and disconnected from God. This weekend, I decided I needed to make it happen, and I was going to find time to go see them one way or another.
Since I couldn't make it Saturday, I decided I would go today. I haven't been to Loaves and Fishes on a Sunday before, but I'd heard they had mass, so I went to check it out. As soon as I walked in I got emotional. They had transformed what was normally a small dining hall into seating for about 50. The hall was bustling with boy scouts, and other groups that had come to join the mass, and volunteer at lunch after. Looking out the window, was a line quickly forming of mostly men, and a few women, eagerly waiting to get in. Some were dirty, most came already sweaty from the heat outside, they all had the few things they owned with them, but they all came with the biggest of smiles.
As they began to enter THEY greeted us!! They came in and shared hugs, and handshakes as they filled the seats one by one. A few minutes later, Catholic mass began. Have you ever been to a church where it felt like everyone was trying to be perfect, and judging you on your every move? Yeah, me too. Well this my friends, couldn't have been more different. Everyone in there was so genuienly happy to see each other, and so welcoming. Throughout the mass you would hear "Amens" and "Praise God" as different parts of the mass spoke to the people. I have been in many Catholic churches were I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, but I have been to very few where I felt it as strong as I did today. During the sign of peace, the homeless walked all over the hall greeting their friends excitedly. Yall, I am telling you, if more people were excited to be at church on Sunday's like some of these people were, the world would be a very different place.
By the end of mass, I'm pretty sure I had gone through an entire pack of kleenex, because the emotion and joy of witnessing Christ at work in these people's hearts was overwhelming! Next up was lunch time.
As soon as the mass ended lunch began to be served. I headed out to my favorite place outside and waited for them to come. Within minutes, the familiar faces began to pour onto the patio. Once again, I got emotional as the hugs started. You never realize how much you mean to these people until you don't go everyday, but more importantly, I never realized just how much they meant to me. It took me a minute to realize my heart had been aching for the past several weeks to see these people; to see my friends.
I was reminded throughout lunch of the great glory of our God. These people, who literally have nothing were quick to offer me their water, their dessert, or their seat. It made me wonder, could I share like that if I were in their shoes? Do I share like that now, having more than enough? Then I realized, once again, that was the beauty of God working through these faithful people.
We shared the beauty of the mass, a meal, many laughs & countless hugs. My heart is so full today, and I am reminded that indeed, there is always angels among us.
All he had to give
Today I met a man who quite literally tried to give all he had. As he sat down from lunch, I walked over him to sit by him. We introduced ourselves and started talking. The conversation naturally turned to the small, almost empty little pepper grinder he had on the table. "You came prepared with food seasonings today I see." I said. He proudly picked it up and showed it to me, " You see it says mixed peppercorns?" He asked excitedly. " I do see that, and it looks delicious!" I replied. Without thought he stood up, I asked him where he was going, well to get you a plate so you can try some of my peppercorn on the food!" He said, as if I should have already expected that. After kindly declining a lunch plate, he then tried to open his peppercorn jar to share a few with me, and "Maybe I could try them on my supper later." Once again, I insisted he keep it, and save it for himself. As the conversation switched from the pepper grinder and continued I noticed he kept looking at his dessert. Today, he happened to be served two small donuts. Again, without second thought, he wrapped a donut in a napkin and handed to me, "Keep this." He said. I tried to decline, and insist he keep his food, since that was probably the only meal he ate today, but he insisted. So, I took the donut, which at this point the icing had melted off of in the napkin. As I hugged him and got up to leave, He stopped me, this time, pepper grinder in hand again. "Would you like to take this?" He asked. My eyes filled with tears. I promised him I'd see him soon, and I would try it then, but I wouldn't take it. He smiled a big grin, and said that would do. Then he picked up his belongings, which was all of one shirt, a blanket, and that pepper grinder and walked off.
I know it seems like a silly story, but this man literally wanted to give me one of the few things he owned. He didn't have to think about it, he just wanted to give to make those around him happy. How often do we do that? I know I don't do it near enough. It's so easy to find ourselves selfishly holding onto things, or keeping more than we need, and finding ways to rationalize it. Yet here was a man with nothing, who wanted to give everything. It reminded me of the love and mercy that is poured out on us daily from God. He wants to give us everything, yet so often we are caught up in our own selfishness, and hanging onto things of no value, we can't let go to find the things that are of value. How much happier would we be if we gave instead of received? How much better of a place would this world be if we all gave all we had, and I don't mean money. I mean love, time & prayers. I mean the old clothes and toys just cluttering up your house. Maybe then we could work hand in hand with the angels among us. Maybe then someone else would see the angels among us through YOU.
I know it seems like a silly story, but this man literally wanted to give me one of the few things he owned. He didn't have to think about it, he just wanted to give to make those around him happy. How often do we do that? I know I don't do it near enough. It's so easy to find ourselves selfishly holding onto things, or keeping more than we need, and finding ways to rationalize it. Yet here was a man with nothing, who wanted to give everything. It reminded me of the love and mercy that is poured out on us daily from God. He wants to give us everything, yet so often we are caught up in our own selfishness, and hanging onto things of no value, we can't let go to find the things that are of value. How much happier would we be if we gave instead of received? How much better of a place would this world be if we all gave all we had, and I don't mean money. I mean love, time & prayers. I mean the old clothes and toys just cluttering up your house. Maybe then we could work hand in hand with the angels among us. Maybe then someone else would see the angels among us through YOU.
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