Prior to going to Urban Hope for worship this morning, I
visited the good people of Emerald City.
I
chatted with those who were awake at 9:30 am. Two similar conversations in two different tents will live with me as glorious moments for years to come.
chatted with those who were awake at 9:30 am. Two similar conversations in two different tents will live with me as glorious moments for years to come.
I knelt in the tent flap of one man and woman who were just
waking up and who asked for bananas and water.
The young lady who I've known for months has been battling a basic kind
of cold for a few days now. Through a
raspy voice and while still lying on her mat inside their tent, she looked over
at me and said she was done with this street life. "It's just not worth it." she delicately proclaimed as she laid there on her mat in a tent on a public sidewalk under a railroad overpass in the City of Brotherly Love.
We chatted for a few minutes. I concluded our conversation with "I'm
proud of you, Jennifer, for coming to this conclusion." I sensed that no one had told her of their pride
in her in a long time.
A few minutes later, as I was quietly calling out to a row
of tents with as of yet still sleeping Emerald City residents "Banana Man
is here." "Bananas and Water.",
I passed one rather small and cute tent.
I heard two voices of unrelated Caucasian "sisters" who I've
come to know and love for the fine young women who they are. The opening to their tent was facing the
wall. I approached and was warmly
greeted by these two. Sally and Katrina
greeted me as they sat in their tent.
Katrina is dealing with an uncasted broken arm. She looked at me from her sitting position
inside her cute two person tent and with the most delicate smile in all of
Emerald City she told me that she can't do this anymore and has made
arrangements to begin a treatment that will eventually have her free of her
addiction.
I conveyed my pride in her and then requested a moment to
pray for her and her wrist. I reached in
and placed my hand on her exposed broken arm and prayed for her physical and
spiritual healing. As one who would
normally disregard prayer as a useless endeavor, she, with me, concluded with
"Amen."
Unspeakable Joy in Two Tent Flaps
What a worthy thing you do. I'm proud of you also
ReplyDeleteI'm proud of you Chris. Sorry for your woes.
ReplyDeleteThank you Keith. Life in Delaware county is very difficult right now. I find incredible Joy in serving these good people under these Bridges. I'm deeply concerned for them as the city plans to evict them from these locations that are Grassroots safe injection sites.
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