Thursday, November 29, 2001

"the voice of one crying out in the wilderness." Mark 1:3

I was on my way to church on a Sunday morning; a man approached me and asked if I was the pastor of the church. I said yes, and we made our way toward the front door. Charles needed money for food and for rent at the boarding house. I told him I could help him out with $50, so he asked me to please make out a check to the boarding house. As I wrote the check, he told me about a song he had written, about homeless people, and asked if I would like to hear it. I hesitantly looked at the clock, worship would begin in less than twenty minutes, and said sure, I would like to hear the song. We headed to fellowship hall where I enjoyed the talents of this baritone poet. As we left the hall, more people were arriving for worship, and Charles asked about the school supplies being collected in the hallway. He shared that his son could really use some of these things, so before long we had filled a new orange backpack. Our organist appeared, having heard the music, and before long, Charles was seated at the grand piano in the sanctuary, singing another original song with her, about love reaching out. By then, the sanctuary was filling up, and Charles was invited to stay for worship. We omitted the middle hymn, and listened to his music, applauding when he was done singing. Charles visited with some of our folks after worship, enjoyed refreshments at fellowship hour, and was last seen walking across the parking lot with an orange backpack over his shoulder.

We who live in our particular wilderness of affluence and comfort may not know much about Charles' wilderness of hunger and homelessness and a job that doesn't pay a living wage. I admit I don't know what is the best way to address his situation. But I do believe wherever our own forms of wildernesses can intersect, that may be one of the ways we can begin to address each other as God's children. To meet Charles and be blessed by his talents and personality, that makes it more difficult to ignore the harsh wilderness realities of his life.

PRAYER: O God, during these weeks of preparation, keep us aware of the wilderness places in many people's lives, those places we would rather overlook as this season of celebration takes hold of our lives. Amen.

Sue Burwell

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