I started crying Friday night at the Salvation army shelter, and I’m still crying on Monday.
Mission Possible did some drama at the shelter, and some of it was such a close parallel of my own walk with Jesus that I was moved to tears. Okay, I’ll be honest, I was a mess.
I’m still not that comfortable with the level of emotion and compassion that God has given me and Saturday for me was heartbreaking. I wonder if my heart will always feel so raw.
We met and ministered to 11 people on Saturday, including 2 women. Most of the people we met were encouraging, life giving contacts.
We met a pastor and his wife, though they are struggling financially they’ve turned their basement into a free thrift shop for families in need.
We met a beautiful woman who had given her life to the Lord 2 weeks ago. We saw her while we were cruising the neighbourhood after our regular ministry time was over. She was struggling with a load of cans that refused to stay in the bag, and we stopped to offer her the last of the potatoes. Scott carried her cans to Bandos for her. I can see now that God wanted her to be encouraged. It was cold and she was alone trying to fit those cans back in the bag. To me it’s so amazing that he would use us to tell her she’s not alone. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us.
So now you get some idea of why I’m still crying.
Then there were others, like G who looked like he had just walked away from a murder scene. He was so hollow and traumatized. And our three friends who had just lost their best friend on Monday. And K who was so hungry for human contact and conversation. He knew Jesus, but felt that there was a “yoke” on him.
But the beautiful thing about Can Alley, is none of these people believe that God is somehow punishing them. Those that know Jesus know his love. GG was so happy to talk about Jesus’ love, even though he was without a home. It’s a refreshing change from the hidden doctrine that God is a harsh apathetic foster parent always comparing us to our perfect older brother. This isn’t a theological discourse, I’m the last one qualified to publish one. But I can’t believe that the God who has shown me so much undeserved love and mercy would be so cold and distant to someone else. It really is his kindness that has led to my repentance.
Yup, still crying. Crying for the lost down at can alley. Crying for those who know Jesus and yet are struggling with the ways of this world; crying for those who love the Lord, but have no home both here and around the world; crying for the orphans that I can’t bring into my home; crying for the people who are being taught that God only loves them based on their performance for him….