Thank God for days when a light is shining. Today was that day. I started the ministry part of my day with Eugene. He is a homeless man. He is my friend. Today when he got out of my truck at the train station he said, "You know you are one of two friends I have. I love you." I met Eugene three years ago. On my first encounter he scared me to death. But over time I sat and listened to him. He soon will receive his Social Security check which will give him the ability to have a roof over his head after seven years of homelessness. He says the day he gets his check he is taking me and the other minister who is his friend to a dinner. "You are going to eat on me. Because you have been so good to me."It's sad. I haven't done that much for the man. All I've done is listen to him on the most part. Funny thing.....I think that's all any of us want.....someone to listen. Go figure, God sent this homeless man into my life and he ends up being the one who listens. I told Eugene that I loved him too.
The other light came from within the church. A group came together to talk about the possibility of creating an Arts Ministry. They said that we needed to create a Ministry that is not limited to Fine Arts alone but includes gardening, and other things. For the first time in four years I felt excitement, energy, interest, and joy during a meeting. We may just be on the verge of a radical new thing. Again, go figure.
By the way, I left my door open all day today and had time to read.
3 comments:
God love you, The "little" service of listening to this chap gave him dignity and you and your fellow cleric put him in the position to be able to give something to the World, to give his friendship. Human interaction is just that, an exchange between two humans - He will enjoy the dinner you eat at his expense as much and more than you will - he will be dining on self respect
Hmmm ... all you did was listen ...
Brother - you need to go back and re-read some of MY reflections lately ... the simple act of listening is a gift of holiness that is perhaps unparalleled ... listening means standing present to another ... it means being in community with another human being ... it means you stopped long enough to make him feel valued and loved ...
He said it clearly - he called you a friend ...
You treated him as a person when the rest of the world saw a homeless man and never looked past the stereotype ... you saw a human soul that was hurting and YOU LISTENED ...
All you did was listened??
You did more MUCH more than that!!
What he said - listening is such a good thing to do for someone, especially someone who probably feels invisible and unheard much of the time.
A big turning/growing point in my Christian life was when my then pastor really listened, and asked questions and listened again, and then listened some more. It was a cathartic time. When I went to thank him for all his advice he pointed out he hadn't actually given me any!
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