Ministry moment
I love my life as a freelance writer, but often my husband has the most amazing experiences as the ministry director of our church. Here’s an email he wrote me.
“What an amazing experience I had today. I was in the hallway when I saw an elderly black man coming to the church doors. The south doors are locked during the day because of the preschool, so I went and let him in. He was looking for gas money and food. I told him we didn’t have any money but I could give him some food. He said he was homeless and had some canned food but could use something hot. I asked if he would let me heat him up some food.
I took him to the Library and asked him to wait and relax. I took some fried chicken and mostaccoli out of the freezer and started it heating. He was almost asleep when I came in to invite him to Holy Grounds [our coffee/visiting area] where I set a table for him.
He was laid off from a job at O’Hare Airport on New Year’s Eve and is scheduled to start back on April 1st. During that time he lost his place to live and is living in his car or at a PADS (homeless) shelter. To make it worse, after 8 years he finally received a letter from the Housing Authority to receive Section 8 Housing assistance. Unfortunately it was sent to his sister’s address and by the time he got it he was TWO days late. They said, “Sorry, but you missed your deadline!” Fortunately the PADS office intervened and he’ll have a new letter by April 1st. Notice the correlation of dates: starting back to work, and housing assistance!
After a beautiful conversation I gave him a Bible and he asked me to write something in it and date it for him. We prayed for each other. I gave him a bowl of ice cream and went to bag him some food to take along. We hugged and blessed each other as he left. God was with him today — and always!”
And me? I’m frantically cleaning my house today because my parents are coming tomorrow, and with sickness and the retreat we haven’t kept up with the evil encroachment of dirt. Tomorrow we’ll be swimming through the crowds of St. Patrick’s Day paraders to get to the Oriental theater to see “Wicked” - my parents’ Christmas present to my family!
Last time my mom was here, she was appalled at the haphazard way our pots and pans were stacked in the cabinets (thanks to an indifferent teenaged dish washer), so I think I’ll leave the cat vomit on the floor and the cobwebs on the walls, and go rearrange my cabinets instead.
Published by angelawd on March 14th, 2008 tagged Daily Christianity, Life With the Big Guy
March 14th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Wow, what a beautiful, humbling story.
Also, it sounds like you have a great plan for when your mom comes, cobwebs and all!!
March 14th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Yeah, Josie, I’m so proud of the way my husband helps the community.
March 15th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Was I appalled? Funny, I don’t even remember that.
March 16th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
You were! But then, you were looking for a pan to cook with, and I imagine were frustrated.
I don’t know if you noticed that I installed child-proof latches on all the cabinets so you couldn’t get into them this weekend! xo
March 16th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Ohh my heart aches for that poor man. I cannot fathom how he is feeling, how after all these years of hard work he is homeless and without food. What that does to humble me when I read that he still has strong faith. It humbles me beyond adequate words.
Cat vomit is okay, but have you tried not cleaning up the giant pee stain the basset hound with a 50 gallon bladder left right at the entrance but just beyond where the shoes come off? Oh you should.
xo
March 17th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Eeew, Stacey, Basset Hound pee? Tell me it’s not on carpet. Somehow the cats will only throw up on carpet.
I know, the man’s faith is amazing and humbling. I have noticed that several times with the homeless people. And here I am complaining to God when things don’t go my way, and I have a house and a job and everything.
March 18th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Isn’t it amazing when God steps up and shines right in your face! It’s wonderful that your husband didn’t just turn and walk away from the locked doors like he hadn’t seen the guy. I personally know some ministers who would have. Sad, huh!?!
Hope your parents’ visit is going well and that you enjoyed Wicked. I WANT TO SEE THAT SOOOO BAD! Maybe one day…
March 18th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Damama, Wicked was SO GOOD! And I’m not necessarily a ‘musical’ person.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Your husband is a great, thoughtful man. I’m so encouraged.
I hope everything worked out with your parents and the household.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
THanks, Mewie! It was a great weekend with my parents.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Great post., guy
April 16th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
[…] presents Ministry moment posted at angelawd. Even in the worst of circumstances, a homeless man was able to see God working […]