As per usual for a Tuesday, I went to Luke 14:12 today. Well, not Luke 14:12. As it turns out, now Tuesdays and Fridays are being run by a group called Isaiah 58, which is the homeless ministry of Belmont Church, where lunch has been taking place. At any rate, the same thing happens, just someone else is in charge.
Today I made a couple new friends. I met a woman who was also volunteering. In the process of getting ready to serve the meal for the day, we started talking and I got to hear a little of her story. As it turns out, through whatever chain of events, she was homeless for a few years, but is now back on her feet working as a cosmetologist (did you know that wool coats can damage long hair that rubs against it? Grab a scarf, girls!). She was so willing to talk about how God is working in her life, and how incredibly blessed we are. Then as we were pouring water and tea, she says: "You know, this is what we can do for others. We're pouring ourselves out, pouring God's love out. We're so full."
We. Are. Full.
Really, we are. At least I am. I've been so blessed. While the whole quote in that last paragraph may not be precisely word-for-word accurate, that part is. Now I could've told you before I had this conversation that (in my opinion) God's love is in everyone and part of what we can do as Christians is to share it, whatever that looks like. But it struck me that something as simple as pouring water or fruit tea can have such a deep meaning. Talk about something to make your heart smile.
At one of our YAV vocational discernment times on a Friday morning a few weeks ago, I made comment somewhere along these lines: we hear so much about how God blesses those that have struggles in life (you know, "the meek shall inheret the earth..."), but I haven't had many struggles. I've often wondered where we that haven't struggled so much fall in God's plan. The man that was visiting us that week responded that perhaps the loving support system I have around me can be a basis for me to go out in the world and reach those that don't have one. Maybe pouring tea is part of that.
So, after all of this pondering and pouring, I was about to leave lunch and a nice man eating there walked up and handed me a mint. One of those Wint-o-green Life Saver ones...I mean, it could be peppermint, but you know what I'm talking about. Well, I looked down and the was a little fish-shaped sticker on the wrapper with "Jesus" printed in the middle. Again I was reminded of the liberation theology lecture I saw last week (check out the last blog entry to read more about that). That people that have so little and still make such an effort to share the love of Jesus (on a mint wrapper or just with a smile) is pretty wonderful.
Until next time friends. :)
Love,
Allison.
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