This morning in the midst of a busy Monday morning drop in shift, whilst in the throws of a discussion I'd provoked on the sanctity of life vs the right of the individual to choose to die (why do I start these provocative God spots on a Monday morning?!) I was called to the window by a young man whose face I recognised but couldn't place. I knew I'd met him recently at the Jesus Centre but until he started to speak I couldn't remember where; "I just wanted to come in to say thank you for helping me the other week".. (I mentally polished my Mother Theresa halo, but still couldn't remember what I'd done or said!) "I feel much better now.. " Ping suddenly I remembered him... Lonely, depressed, drinking too much after a relationship break up,no job, feeling like there was no future no, hope. He didn't have any faith & he wasn't looking for any so he didn't want any prayer. When he went away 1/2hr later after I'd listened and given him a word of philosophical encouragement, I didn't know whether he'd go out & throw himself into the canal or drink himself to oblivion; "I've got a job (I'd suggested he drop his CV into every employment agency in Northampton) and I have to be up at 5am so I don't go out drinking in the evenings anymore. I just wanted to come in and let you know and say thank you."
Last week was the last English class for speakers of other languages until after the summer break. Some of the students have been with the class for the whole 9 months. When the tutor asked what they had valued about the class the answer she was given was "we feel so loved by you"
The same week a guy came into the drop in we hadn't seen for months to tell the whole assembled drop in crew that he'd found God in rehab and it had changed his life.
Jesus told a story in the Bible about a boy who brought 5 loaves and 2 fish to Him when he was looking for a lunch snack for at least 5 thousand people. (Now that's my definition of an optimist!) Some times we can feel very like that young boy with his lunch; helpless and able to do so little to meet all the demands and needs we encounter in an average week but we bring the little that we can do and then watch as God steps in and multiplies our efforts. Sometimes we never get to hear how the story ends but every so often, usually when we're really stretched and most need the encouragement God blesses us with the gift of seeing how what He was able to add to our small effort, changed the whole story of someones life.
We never hear what effect Jesus using that boy's lunch that day had on him; He never came back to say "hey because of that day, Jesus, I became a Rabbi or a priest." But I like to think that, like any young boy would, he went home and he kept sharing with people what happened so that not just his life was touched by what Jesus had done but many of his friends and families too. And I hope the same is true for those people who we help here at the Jesus Centre. That because of the small things we do out of love many more people will be given hope and their story will change.
Reflecting back on the discussion in the drop in this morning which I concluded by challenging folk to think about what lies beyond this life and to consider whether they believe in a life after death... maybe that's where we'll meet all the people we never knew who we're touched by our small acts of love.
No comments:
Post a Comment