Flood of emotions…
A few years ago I met a man named Dave. He was from Detroit, he lived on the streets. He loved people, alcohol loved him. I met Dave in month 6 of being sober. I was on about month 6 of my break from alcohol. Dave touched my life. I wasn't sure how much he touched it until last night. I was at church and my friend Stefan was speaking. Stefan was Dave's friend. And as I was Stefan's friend, Dave would not leave me alone. Stefan was the one who Dave claims "taught him the gospels by loving and living" and not by words. I knew there was something special about Dave, Jesus was definitely inside him and was definitely working through him.
Friday night Dave left our world to be with his father that he talked about so often. And lived and loved in his fathers image so often. Unfortunately for years Dave has been battling the demons of alcohol and drug addictions. Addictions that he wanted to break, but continued to get pulled back into their deceiving lies. My emotions are everywhere with Dave. Sad, as he was a friend who taught me a lot without even trying to teach me anything. Sad that such a tremendous loving heart could be shackled by the burdens of alcoholism and drug addictions. Bummed that I wont get to see him for some time now. Questioning/Confused that somebody who has touched many lives on the streets and off the streets could be taken from this world when I think he could have done so much more! Happy that he is now with the guy he couldn't stop talking about and couldn't stop loving with his heart. I know I have to release the selfishness of Dave being here with us to God and that Dave has served his duty and fulfilled God's plan for him, even though my limited mind can't understand it.
The story Stefan shared last night was one that happened recently. A few Christian Evangelists came to the area where Dave was homeless and wanted to "evangelize" to Dave and other homeless in the area. An interesting thing Dave told me a few years ago is that a lot of homeless people know the gospels, people tell them about it all the time, or they read it in their Bibles. Dave recognized and knew what the gospels were about. When these 2 men came to see him, Dave told them one thing they could do is to help his friend out. His friend was in a wheelchair, hadn't had a shower in a long time, hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long time. Dave said they could help his friend by getting him a hotel room for a night, for a shower and a night's sleep in a good bed. So the 4 of them went to the hotel, the 2 men paid for the room and Dave took his friend to the room. Dave took his friend out of the wheelchair, brought him into the bathroom, took his clothes off and put him in the tub. Dave washed his friend who was unable to wash himself. Dave then dried his friend and got him to the bed. Dave tucked the man into bed and said "goodnight brother" and left.
A few things that stuck out to me about that story. If I didn't know Dave, I would think. Why didn't he stay the night with him in a bed? Why would he go back to the streets? Dave was selfless, he wanted to help his friend, not himself. If I were in that situation, I would have asked for a 2-bed room or a rollaway or at least slept on the floor, inside, safe from weather or any other factors you face as being homeless. Another thought is what those 2 men thought when then left the hotel after paying. I am guessing they might have been a little speechless, I know I would have been.
The hardest thought about that story… I don't think I could do that. I know that I can't think of doing that! I know and have read the gospels, but when it comes to "doing" something like that, which I see as a story that would fit right into the gospels, I could imagine Jesus telling that story as an example of how to love. And I don't know that I could do it! What good is it if I know the story but can't "do it"?
Jesus says this in Matthew 25:40-46
40“The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
41“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44“Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45“Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46“These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.�
Goodbye my friend.. Dave, I will see you soon someday, we'll talk about the time we spent together riding ziplines and I can thank you for teaching me through your actions.
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