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Susan peeks out the window of the church office, pulling the venetian blinds back just enough to view the broken down station wagon piled high with blankets and listing to the right on tired tires. Children tumble out onto the tarmac, a man unfolds from the front seat, scruffy beard, dirty plaid shirt, the woman impossibly huge in pregnancy. Susan, the perennially tidy church secretary, crinkles her nose at the imagined stink as she picks up the phone and dials then whispers, “Pastor, there are people here. They’re filthy and it looks like they’ve been living in a station wagon. I’m sure they want a handout of some kind…”The pastor’s voice is quiet, “I’m five minutes away. Please, just wait.”
He arrives in a well maintained, 1985 Honda Accord. It takes him a moment to straighten from the car. He’s nearly 80 years-old and his hair is snow white but his blue eyes are bright. He sees Susan peeking through the blinds and waves as he moves to greet the rag tag family parked across the lot.
The Pastor listens while the man talks. He learns of a lost job. The old station wagon is running on fumes, they need a place to rest… The man can’t even meet his eyes as he states his case. Pastor sees the crumbled cigarette packages, a beer bottle stuffed between the front seats. The man’s breath reeks. The children are big eyed and silent, their noses runny. He nods his head, steps back, and opens his arms wide, inviting them to come inside the church.
In the church kitchen he cooks for them, and invites them to use the facilities to clean-up. The secretary is frantic as she whispers, “You don’t know anything about them, Pastor. You can’t keep bringing homeless people, vagrants, into the church building! We just remodeled. The last man you brought in stole from us. Do you want that to happen again? You have a responsibility to your congregation!”
The Pastor smiles as he flips grilled cheese sandwiches in a pan, “I hope the last man was blessed by what he found here. Everything we have belongs to God, Susan. He took nothing from us. “
“But your responsibility to the congregation…” Her voice is full of frustration and indignation. Her arms firmly planted on her hips.
Sliding the sandwiches onto a serving plate, he turns to her and his voice is firm, “My responsibility is to our God who calls us to love.”
Later, when the church board reprimands the Pastor for putting church property at risk, for inviting vagrants in, he will remind them once again that the building and everything inside of it belong only to God, and that the mission of the church is not the protection of church property but the loving of people.
None of them will ever know the impact the Pastor’s kindness had on that family, but that father and mother will raise children who love God and they will do much good. Years later, when they tell their story in the homeless shelter run by their church, the father and mother will speak of the Pastor who loved them not with empty words but with hot showers and grilled cheese sandwiches when they were destitute and desperate. And they will ask those they serve to pass-on whatever kindness they have received and to do so in the name of God.
©Just Kate, 2010
Matthew 25:38-40 (New International Version)
38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
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Thank you, Lyd. I was thinking of a dear friend of mine, Pastor Paul, when I wrote this. He has oft been accused of letting people take advantage of him and being "weak." I wonder how people who say such things can be so blind. His generosity is FREELY offered, without condition (that's SO RARE), and his ability to give as he does... Well, it reeks of God to me, of God and strength and love. ♥
Coral,
Yes, I was thinking of our Pastor Paul when I wrote this piece. We met him when we visited the church shortly after we returned from Papua New Guinea, and we told him we likely wouldn't be back because we were looking for a younger congregation. He said it didn't matter, he just felt compelled to love us. We honestly never expected to see him again.
The funny thing is, he was at our front doorstep in a matter of days and he just kept right on coming over to spend time with us. He was there when we brought the three little kids home. He became like family.
We felt so loved by him. He wasn't looking for more church members or more tithe, he simply saw that we were struggling to adjust to life back in the USA without any friends or family in the area and he felt compelled to love us, to be our family if we would let him.
I could tell countless stories of Pastor Paul's kindness, of his extraordinary example of love. When I see him I can't help but believe in the Jesus of the New Testament. It's a rare thing, his capacity to love the way he does.
I don't remember the family you speak of specifically but I remember MANY families that came and went and were blessed by Pastor Paul. And there are others there, I can't help but think of Elaine... She's amazing, too! When I grow up, I want to be like Paul or Elaine! :) For me, they exemplify what it means to be a follower of Christ.
When I feel too discouraged by what I see happening in organized religion, I remember those good people who like the man in my story, like Pastor Paul, TRULY love and live the life they profess to believe in, it gives me hope.
Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment, Coral!
Anonymous,
I was just thinking that my response to the last comment was way too long and now I can't think of anything to say except to thank you for your kind words. :) Maybe, some day, if I love long enough, I'll be something like the pastor in my story.
I agree, your finer qualities resemble those of the Pastor.
I once told my Pastor friend, the one on which the character in my story is based, that I wanted to be like him but didn't think I was going to make it. He said I wouldn't have recognized him 40 years ago because he wasn't the same man when he was younger. It made me smile and gave me hope. Maybe some day I'll be able to love like that. It's a good aspiration. :)
Love & Blessings,
Colleen
Colleen,
Christians like YOU help me put aside the hurt and anger that have built up in me over the years as I've lived in church culture and worked as a missionary, worship leader, bible study teacher, etc. Somewhere along the line I got tired of hearing about love while seeing so little of it. I got tired of being judged.
As an aside, religious leaders seem to look for "types." Ever noticed how the most respected women in a church will begin to emulate the pastor's wife or leader of woman's ministries? Conformity and order are what people in religious circles seek. I hate that.
I think it's partly the love of conformity and order that causes people to dismiss people like the family in my story. It would be perfectly acceptable to go "minister" to them on the street or at a homeless shelter or some other "appropriate" venue, but to invite them straight into a shiny, much loved and highly polished church building?! Now, that's radical and bordering on irresponsible.
I'm very disillusioned with the church as an institution, with organized religion. I wish we could get rid of the damn buildings and the "church property" and dress codes and just start opening our doors to people and loving them.
At this point in my journey, my "religion" is love and kindness. The biggest challenge for me is to extend grace not to homeless "stinky" people but to the shiny people, carefully guarding their church buildings and handing down edicts about how proper church people should look on the outside.
I suppose I wrote this, in part, to remind myself of the beautiful "church people" I know and have known. There are many of them.
I think I just indulged in a rant! I'm blogging in my own blog comments.
♥
Here are some lyrics that fit nicely within this blog:
Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?
Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet might stain the carpet
But He reaches for the hurting and despises the proud
I think He'd prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud
I want to be like my Jesus!
Jay, Oddly enough, when I left organized religion behind and stopped identifying myself as an evangelical Christian, I found myself feeling closer to true spirituality than I ever have in a lifetime of pursuing the things of God in the context of organized religion. Instead of feeling like faith is a formulaic thing with a list of rights and wrongs that must be adhered to, I began to FEEL the presence of God in an entirely new way.
I have a sense of freedom from censure that I never felt before. I'm not ashamed to say that I no longer feel like I have the answers. If people want to judge that and say that I'm backslidden, as some do, that's up to them. I am truly in pursuit of spirituality. For me, that feels like love and kindness right now. And I'm seeing truth in the bible that I never saw before, in an entirely new context...
ANYWAY, I know that you hear my heart and I love that about you. I don't have to use certain words for you to believe that I'm sincere in my seeking. You are the kind of Christian I most identify with and am most drawn to. You remind me of Pastor Paul.
I love the lyrics you posted. I don't feel certain about the theology of it, as I once was, but I am still very drawn to it. Don't know if that makes sense.
Wow, my comment responses are LONG today!
Love you, Jay.
For some reason it seems a bit different, like you tweaked the writing of it, but then again that could just be because my recollection is hazy. It has been a while. How cool that I was just telling you that so much of what you have written I would enjoy reading again. ;-)
Drew,
I wrote this YESTERDAY, that's probably why your recollection is hazy! LOL
I think what you recognize is the theme and the character of the Pastor. I wrote a blog on myspace about my friend (the man whom I based the character in this story on) and I said that it's people like him who give me hope because there ARE people who are Christlike in the church, people who inspire me and show me glimpses of God. They might be few and far between (in my experience they are) but they're there.
So, there you go. This is a brand new read. LOL If you want a re-post, you'll find "Always and Forever" and "The Empty Church" posted here. They are two of my favorite works. I refined them before I posted them here but they both originated as myspace blogs whereas this one was born yesterday. :)
hahahahaha.... that is too funny.... hey I guess it just seemed so much like you to me that it didn't seem new. Plus I do remember that one about the your Pastor and how the lady at the church had a big problem with him helping people she didn't approve of. I guess those two things were the only congruent parts, but it reminded me of that blog. lol....
Oh, I plan on reading everything now that I found you and know you are writing again. I would buy a book of just your blogs. No doubt. As long as your beautiful legs in tattered jeans is on the cover. ;-D
I really do appreciate the message of this blog. It is such a wonderful message of how people forget the mission that God has placed before them in the church they worship in.
Hey, Drew, you are the FIRST person to figure out how to use the threaded chat on my blog. Maybe nobody else has even tried. Anyway, I love it!
The story themes are similar, you're right! And I think you do recognize my "voice" as a writer. :0)
I'm happy that you're here, my friend. I enjoy our blogversations. So many people won't comment on this forum. It makes me sad because the blog interaction is something I LOVE.
For the record, I should say that the legs I'm using here aren't mine! LOL I found the photo online and it wasn't copyrighted so I edited and used it. I like how crisp it is. The photos I used on ms that were mine weren't as well done as this one. So, If you'll settle for a knee that doesn't belong to me we've got a deal. ;)
As always, I appreciate your kind words about my writing. Did I mention it's good to have you back? So glad you're here, Drew.
Well it did kind of throw me the first time I clicked on it because it changed the screen, but I figured it out from there. ;) I have not been able to follow anyone on blogspot much because I don't get notifications to remind me that they wrote something or responded to a comment of mine.
OH, I was not referring to this picture, I was thinking of the standing pic. Were those your legs?
Yes you did, and I am glad to be here. xoxo
All but one or two of the pics were mine. I miss the artistic element of myspace. My signature - the ripped jeans - was a big part of my blogger personality on myspace - an external expression of an internal thing.
Anyway, thanks again for finding me, Drew! xo
Bruce!!!
It's great to see you here. I followed your link and am now officially following your blog. I had no idea you were blogging off myspace.
Thank you for reading and letting me know you were here. It means a lot to me. Thank you also for the kind words.
=D
Anonymous,
Since I've turned writing into a career, I no longer have time to write on myspace. It was fun but very time consuming! I hope you will visit HERE.
Thank you for the compliment!
It also reminded me of an adventure a few of my friends and I took into our church as children.
Thank you. I wish I had met your Pastor. I think I would have enjoyed talking with him. =)
xoxo
I have really MISSED you, Christina. You haven't been around for ages. I was about ready to hop a bus and go looking for you! ;)
Pastor Paul is just awesome! He lost his wife who he adored a few years back then met a woman he knew as a boy and they recently got married. He's such a joyful person. He's living strong, beautiful, and full of love. The story is fictional but based on what I know of his character. :0)
I love you, girl. So good to see you again. xoxo
I have missed you too. I'M BAAAACK! =) ♥
Oh and I might even post a little memory blog about that trip into my church I took as a child. =)
Chickee, lol, it was a reasonable assumption!
I can't wait to read your story! Post a link on fb so I don't miss it!
YAY for you being back. My world is a brighter and better place with you in it. ♥
This is a beautifully written truth. What an awesome man this pastor was. I can't remember who sings the song right now, but he sings of the homeless man who slips quietly into the church and knows by the stares and whispers, that his chances are better out on the street, of being accepted. Jesus tells us we could be entertaining Angels unaware. I love you and so happy I can find you here and enjoy your blogs. Love and many prayers and blessings sent your way, Annette
This is a beautifully written truth. What an awesome man this pastor was. I can't remember who sings the song right now, but he sings of the homeless man who slips quietly into the church and knows by the stares and whispers, that his chances are better out on the street, of being accepted. Jesus tells us we could be entertaining Angels unaware. I love you and so happy I can find you here and enjoy your blogs. Love and many prayers and blessings sent your way, Annette
Annette - It's good to "see" you. I'd been toying with the idea of deactivating the fb page for some time. The fan page was an experiment. I truly felt honored by the overwhelmingly positive response, but soon realized it was just another draw on my time and not productive.
I will continue to read my blogger friends. Those who wish to continue reading me will know to find me here, so I felt comfortable with simply letting the page go - no dramatic exit.
Anyway, back to the blog -- the blog is fiction but based on someone I know and love dearly. He is an exceptional man and one who shines God to me.
Love to you, my friend.
Anonymous - I once said to the man who inspired this story that I was frustrated with myself because I don't know how to love the way he does. He reminded me that he's twice my age and was a much different man half a lifetime ago. Life is a process and we're all becoming. Over the course of years, the man who inspired this blog, my friend Pastor Paul, has become more and more Christlike. He's beautiful. :)
So wonderfully written and this touched the heart!
As I was waiting in line at Subway to order a sandwich a few weeks ago, I struck up a conversation with a young lady standing there with me. She was on her way to the streets of Atlanta (with a few other friends) to pass out blankets and jackets to the homeless on that wet and cold night. I was so moved by what she said, I bought her dinner with my thanks for the deed she was doing. I am unemployed, but I had more than enough funds to buy her dinner and mine too. I was blessed more just by meeting and hearing what she and others were about to do!
Annette had to send me this link (I saved it!!) so I could keep up with you. I was sad when I didn't see your Pic on my friends list. But, I read your explanation to her a few comments up and I do understand. You write so very well and I will visit here often to read your works. Your way of writing is wonderful!
Warm regards and much love to ya,
~Calvin
I smiled hugely when I saw that you had come by, Calvin! It's great to hear from you. I'm glad you understand why I felt it was time to move on without fanfare. I knew that anyone who wanted to could find me here, so I let the page go and quit dithering around about it.
I absolutely love your story - that you bought the young lady lunch even though I know you've been unemployed for some time. It's exactly the kind of thing I've been talking about in my Unequivocal Kate blog, conserving so that we have enough to give even when times are lean. Wonderful! More often than not we have more than we think we do. It all depends on how we live. You're an excellent example of how to live and spend wisely, my friend. Your heart is also as big as the world. :0)
Thank you for leaving a comment so we can "talk." Love and blessings to you!
♥ Katy
This is beautiful Kate! I love that you made the pastor a true man of spirit and transcendant kindness, as these men of "faith" are rare indeed. xoxox
Thank you, Lyd. I was thinking of a dear friend of mine, Pastor Paul, when I wrote this. He has oft been accused of letting people take advantage of him and being "weak." I wonder how people who say such things can be so blind. His generosity is FREELY offered, without condition (that's SO RARE), and his ability to give as he does... Well, it reeks of God to me, of God and strength and love. ♥
Before your family went to Pastor Paul's church, assuming you're talking of the Pastor Paul I am thinking of, there was a single mother with three children living at the church and a few of the people at the Church, my family included, paid her to do to house work for them since she was unemployed. I didn't know if you knew that. Also one time when my father was in the hospital Pastor Paul brought him flowers even though my Father never went to Church. You're right, he is a great man. Beautiful writing!
Coral,
Yes, I was thinking of our Pastor Paul when I wrote this piece. We met him when we visited the church shortly after we returned from Papua New Guinea, and we told him we likely wouldn't be back because we were looking for a younger congregation. He said it didn't matter, he just felt compelled to love us. We honestly never expected to see him again.
The funny thing is, he was at our front doorstep in a matter of days and he just kept right on coming over to spend time with us. He was there when we brought the three little kids home. He became like family.
We felt so loved by him. He wasn't looking for more church members or more tithe, he simply saw that we were struggling to adjust to life back in the USA without any friends or family in the area and he felt compelled to love us, to be our family if we would let him.
I could tell countless stories of Pastor Paul's kindness, of his extraordinary example of love. When I see him I can't help but believe in the Jesus of the New Testament. It's a rare thing, his capacity to love the way he does.
I don't remember the family you speak of specifically but I remember MANY families that came and went and were blessed by Pastor Paul. And there are others there, I can't help but think of Elaine... She's amazing, too! When I grow up, I want to be like Paul or Elaine! :) For me, they exemplify what it means to be a follower of Christ.
When I feel too discouraged by what I see happening in organized religion, I remember those good people who like the man in my story, like Pastor Paul, TRULY love and live the life they profess to believe in, it gives me hope.
Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment, Coral!
I think you have a purpose that you might not even be aware of, Kate. I've been reading your blogs for a long time and no matter what you're writing about you manage to convey a message of love that touches my heart and makes me want to be a better person. I think the pastor in your story is a lot like you.
Anonymous,
I was just thinking that my response to the last comment was way too long and now I can't think of anything to say except to thank you for your kind words. :) Maybe, some day, if I love long enough, I'll be something like the pastor in my story.
Kate,
I agree, your finer qualities resemble those of the Pastor.
Ruby,
I once told my Pastor friend, the one on which the character in my story is based, that I wanted to be like him but didn't think I was going to make it. He said I wouldn't have recognized him 40 years ago because he wasn't the same man when he was younger. It made me smile and gave me hope. Maybe some day I'll be able to love like that. It's a good aspiration. :)
A beautiful story, Kate.
Thank you, Rebecca. I know I said it already but it bears repeating. It's so good to see you again!! :0)
Kate, this story truly resonates with the real meaning of charity and love. What a wonderful man this Pastor is, what a fine example of how to live one's life giving to those in need....despite what the congregation or church board thinks. From what I know of you, you have also opened your heart & soul to those in need. I truly admire you for that. And I love that Bible quote, my friend.
Love & Blessings,
Colleen
Colleen,
Christians like YOU help me put aside the hurt and anger that have built up in me over the years as I've lived in church culture and worked as a missionary, worship leader, bible study teacher, etc. Somewhere along the line I got tired of hearing about love while seeing so little of it. I got tired of being judged.
As an aside, religious leaders seem to look for "types." Ever noticed how the most respected women in a church will begin to emulate the pastor's wife or leader of woman's ministries? Conformity and order are what people in religious circles seek. I hate that.
I think it's partly the love of conformity and order that causes people to dismiss people like the family in my story. It would be perfectly acceptable to go "minister" to them on the street or at a homeless shelter or some other "appropriate" venue, but to invite them straight into a shiny, much loved and highly polished church building?! Now, that's radical and bordering on irresponsible.
I'm very disillusioned with the church as an institution, with organized religion. I wish we could get rid of the damn buildings and the "church property" and dress codes and just start opening our doors to people and loving them.
At this point in my journey, my "religion" is love and kindness. The biggest challenge for me is to extend grace not to homeless "stinky" people but to the shiny people, carefully guarding their church buildings and handing down edicts about how proper church people should look on the outside.
I suppose I wrote this, in part, to remind myself of the beautiful "church people" I know and have known. There are many of them.
I think I just indulged in a rant! I'm blogging in my own blog comments.
♥
Love the scripture! Loving others is the same as loving God. This is an excellent reminder of how Christian people should be living. We often don't know how our actions impact others but we can trust God to work through our kindness.
Like throwing a rock into a pond our actions have a ripple effect. We often don't see it but we can rest assured that it's happening. I want my ripples to be good ones. :)
Kate, for me, you are at your best when you write within a spiritual subtext. This was a beautiful sketch of a truly spiritual person...not religious; but spiritual...there is a difference, as you know. Pastor Paul kind of reminds me of a man I listen to on the radio...he calls himself the "old white guy", and often says he is old enough now that he doesn't worry about what others think, he doesn't worry about the board, the elders, the tithes, the politics. He's too old to worry about impressing people. He just wants to love people and exhibit grace. Sounds like this pastor! Kinda sounds like Jesus, too!
Here are some lyrics that fit nicely within this blog:
Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?
Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet might stain the carpet
But He reaches for the hurting and despises the proud
I think He'd prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud
I want to be like my Jesus!
Jay, Oddly enough, when I left organized religion behind and stopped identifying myself as an evangelical Christian, I found myself feeling closer to true spirituality than I ever have in a lifetime of pursuing the things of God in the context of organized religion. Instead of feeling like faith is a formulaic thing with a list of rights and wrongs that must be adhered to, I began to FEEL the presence of God in an entirely new way.
I have a sense of freedom from censure that I never felt before. I'm not ashamed to say that I no longer feel like I have the answers. If people want to judge that and say that I'm backslidden, as some do, that's up to them. I am truly in pursuit of spirituality. For me, that feels like love and kindness right now. And I'm seeing truth in the bible that I never saw before, in an entirely new context...
ANYWAY, I know that you hear my heart and I love that about you. I don't have to use certain words for you to believe that I'm sincere in my seeking. You are the kind of Christian I most identify with and am most drawn to. You remind me of Pastor Paul.
I love the lyrics you posted. I don't feel certain about the theology of it, as I once was, but I am still very drawn to it. Don't know if that makes sense.
Wow, my comment responses are LONG today!
Love you, Jay.
I love this blog. I remember this. :)
For some reason it seems a bit different, like you tweaked the writing of it, but then again that could just be because my recollection is hazy. It has been a while. How cool that I was just telling you that so much of what you have written I would enjoy reading again. ;-)
Drew,
I wrote this YESTERDAY, that's probably why your recollection is hazy! LOL
I think what you recognize is the theme and the character of the Pastor. I wrote a blog on myspace about my friend (the man whom I based the character in this story on) and I said that it's people like him who give me hope because there ARE people who are Christlike in the church, people who inspire me and show me glimpses of God. They might be few and far between (in my experience they are) but they're there.
So, there you go. This is a brand new read. LOL If you want a re-post, you'll find "Always and Forever" and "The Empty Church" posted here. They are two of my favorite works. I refined them before I posted them here but they both originated as myspace blogs whereas this one was born yesterday. :)
hahahahaha.... that is too funny.... hey I guess it just seemed so much like you to me that it didn't seem new. Plus I do remember that one about the your Pastor and how the lady at the church had a big problem with him helping people she didn't approve of. I guess those two things were the only congruent parts, but it reminded me of that blog. lol....
Oh, I plan on reading everything now that I found you and know you are writing again. I would buy a book of just your blogs. No doubt. As long as your beautiful legs in tattered jeans is on the cover. ;-D
I really do appreciate the message of this blog. It is such a wonderful message of how people forget the mission that God has placed before them in the church they worship in.
Hey, Drew, you are the FIRST person to figure out how to use the threaded chat on my blog. Maybe nobody else has even tried. Anyway, I love it!
The story themes are similar, you're right! And I think you do recognize my "voice" as a writer. :0)
I'm happy that you're here, my friend. I enjoy our blogversations. So many people won't comment on this forum. It makes me sad because the blog interaction is something I LOVE.
For the record, I should say that the legs I'm using here aren't mine! LOL I found the photo online and it wasn't copyrighted so I edited and used it. I like how crisp it is. The photos I used on ms that were mine weren't as well done as this one. So, If you'll settle for a knee that doesn't belong to me we've got a deal. ;)
As always, I appreciate your kind words about my writing. Did I mention it's good to have you back? So glad you're here, Drew.
Well it did kind of throw me the first time I clicked on it because it changed the screen, but I figured it out from there. ;) I have not been able to follow anyone on blogspot much because I don't get notifications to remind me that they wrote something or responded to a comment of mine.
OH, I was not referring to this picture, I was thinking of the standing pic. Were those your legs?
Yes you did, and I am glad to be here. xoxo
All but one or two of the pics were mine. I miss the artistic element of myspace. My signature - the ripped jeans - was a big part of my blogger personality on myspace - an external expression of an internal thing.
Anyway, thanks again for finding me, Drew! xo
Awesome blog Kate.Such a beautiful message and a really important message that more people need to realize. Beautifully written my friend :o)
Bruce!!!
It's great to see you here. I followed your link and am now officially following your blog. I had no idea you were blogging off myspace.
Thank you for reading and letting me know you were here. It means a lot to me. Thank you also for the kind words.
=D
A friend told me you were blogging here. You were my favorite myspace blogger. Ever think of coming back?
Anonymous,
Since I've turned writing into a career, I no longer have time to write on myspace. It was fun but very time consuming! I hope you will visit HERE.
Thank you for the compliment!
I absoloutely LOVE this. It shows how a church should be used and how love and caring should be given. Without judgement or thoughts of repayment, just freely given.
It also reminded me of an adventure a few of my friends and I took into our church as children.
Thank you. I wish I had met your Pastor. I think I would have enjoyed talking with him. =)
xoxo
I have really MISSED you, Christina. You haven't been around for ages. I was about ready to hop a bus and go looking for you! ;)
Pastor Paul is just awesome! He lost his wife who he adored a few years back then met a woman he knew as a boy and they recently got married. He's such a joyful person. He's living strong, beautiful, and full of love. The story is fictional but based on what I know of his character. :0)
I love you, girl. So good to see you again. xoxo
I am sorry. I had assumed Pastor Paul had passed on. Oopsie! Oh well maybe someday I will meet him. =)
I have missed you too. I'M BAAAACK! =) ♥
Oh and I might even post a little memory blog about that trip into my church I took as a child. =)
Chickee, lol, it was a reasonable assumption!
I can't wait to read your story! Post a link on fb so I don't miss it!
YAY for you being back. My world is a brighter and better place with you in it. ♥
Hi Katy, this is Annette. I missed you on FB and came to find you. I was praying you still had this active.
This is a beautifully written truth. What an awesome man this pastor was. I can't remember who sings the song right now, but he sings of the homeless man who slips quietly into the church and knows by the stares and whispers, that his chances are better out on the street, of being accepted. Jesus tells us we could be entertaining Angels unaware. I love you and so happy I can find you here and enjoy your blogs. Love and many prayers and blessings sent your way, Annette
Hi Katy, this is Annette. I missed you on FB and came to find you. I was praying you still had this active.
This is a beautifully written truth. What an awesome man this pastor was. I can't remember who sings the song right now, but he sings of the homeless man who slips quietly into the church and knows by the stares and whispers, that his chances are better out on the street, of being accepted. Jesus tells us we could be entertaining Angels unaware. I love you and so happy I can find you here and enjoy your blogs. Love and many prayers and blessings sent your way, Annette
Annette - It's good to "see" you. I'd been toying with the idea of deactivating the fb page for some time. The fan page was an experiment. I truly felt honored by the overwhelmingly positive response, but soon realized it was just another draw on my time and not productive.
I will continue to read my blogger friends. Those who wish to continue reading me will know to find me here, so I felt comfortable with simply letting the page go - no dramatic exit.
Anyway, back to the blog -- the blog is fiction but based on someone I know and love dearly. He is an exceptional man and one who shines God to me.
Love to you, my friend.
AS always you have captured the essence of a TRUE man of god, one we would hope to emulate even if only for one minute of one day..the world would be a much better place..
Anonymous - I once said to the man who inspired this story that I was frustrated with myself because I don't know how to love the way he does. He reminded me that he's twice my age and was a much different man half a lifetime ago. Life is a process and we're all becoming. Over the course of years, the man who inspired this blog, my friend Pastor Paul, has become more and more Christlike. He's beautiful. :)
Kate,
So wonderfully written and this touched the heart!
As I was waiting in line at Subway to order a sandwich a few weeks ago, I struck up a conversation with a young lady standing there with me. She was on her way to the streets of Atlanta (with a few other friends) to pass out blankets and jackets to the homeless on that wet and cold night. I was so moved by what she said, I bought her dinner with my thanks for the deed she was doing. I am unemployed, but I had more than enough funds to buy her dinner and mine too. I was blessed more just by meeting and hearing what she and others were about to do!
Annette had to send me this link (I saved it!!) so I could keep up with you. I was sad when I didn't see your Pic on my friends list. But, I read your explanation to her a few comments up and I do understand. You write so very well and I will visit here often to read your works. Your way of writing is wonderful!
Warm regards and much love to ya,
~Calvin
@Calvin
I smiled hugely when I saw that you had come by, Calvin! It's great to hear from you. I'm glad you understand why I felt it was time to move on without fanfare. I knew that anyone who wanted to could find me here, so I let the page go and quit dithering around about it.
I absolutely love your story - that you bought the young lady lunch even though I know you've been unemployed for some time. It's exactly the kind of thing I've been talking about in my Unequivocal Kate blog, conserving so that we have enough to give even when times are lean. Wonderful! More often than not we have more than we think we do. It all depends on how we live. You're an excellent example of how to live and spend wisely, my friend. Your heart is also as big as the world. :0)
Thank you for leaving a comment so we can "talk." Love and blessings to you!
♥ Katy
Hi, very interesting post, greetings from Greece!
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