the power of presence

An unusual Tuesday–I found myself sitting outside the church, journalling at a time we would have normally been gone to lunch.
I heard a voice asking, “Do you work here?”
I turned to discover a lady who while walking by the church property with her dog, she made a discovery.
“Do you know there is someone sleeping under the stairs on the other side of your building?”
Uncertain I’d heard with accuracy I responded, ”Excuse me?”
Repeating the dilemma I assured her we would check it out.
Rather than investigate alone and remembering the insistent request of my husband, I called Shane to go on the search mission with me–
We discovered, a girl.
She was indeed sleeping.
She immediately began to gather her things, apologize and say, “I will get off your property.”
We sought to convince her that we had no desire for her to leave.
Quite the contrary–we wanted her to stick around so we could figure out if there were ways we might help.
Assuming there was surely some sort of “need” if a cement surface on the underside of the fire escape at some random church was the best place one could find for a midday nap.
Convincing her was not simple.
We offered her a snack for her upset tummy.
We offered her a shower since her last was 2 weeks prior.
We offered her a drink.
She declined each offer.
Eventually accepted snacks and water bottles to place inside her duffle–promising to partake later.

We began to collect her story.
Separated from her  family since she was very small she spoke with some resentment for the system.
“My mom lost her parental rights when I was a baby.
She had 5 other children and raised them like a family.
I am not sure why she couldn’t raise me like a family…”
I like the way families look.
I am sad with the sincerity behind these words.
Very, sad.
As her story unfolds we discover that she is attempting to get “home”
Too many miles to walk but willing.
Offeres repeatedly, “I will just leave.”
She would never enter the building so we sat on the sidewalk to chat while Shane helped us figure out some travel details, online.

While he is inside, I invite the weary traveler to share her story at greater depths. I learn, she  was married once…it didn’t work out.
She likes to read.
We got her some books to read in her wait time.
She has earned and held a Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA) certificate somewhere in the past.
She says, “I’m not uneducated–and I can hold a job.”
She would like to return to that line of work–caring for others.
She describes her life as one that can never catch a break.

Describing her reality, I “hear” the…dilemma
You cannot get a job if you are dirty, homeless and without transportation.
I concur.
You cannot get cleaned up with regularity, purchase a dependable car or pay for a place to live until you have a job.
Again, I concur.
It is much more difficult.
Maybe not impossible through the support of a homeless center offering a reentry program.
However, her point is well taken.

It was 80 degrees today.
Quite comfortable, really.
However, not chilly enough for the large coat she was wearing.
The coat was assigned several roles.
Keeping warm was not one of them for today.
The large pocket on one side served as a file cabinet and storage for important information.
The hood served as a consistent head cover.
It remained in tact the whole time we were together.
The rest of the coat seemed to be a necessary, security blanket.
Covering the unkept shirt, her pants which were tied up with a rope.
It also protected her sun-drenched arms.
The police came.
She was frustrated at first.
Fearing we had gone back on the words, “We just want to help you.”
We were able to preserve integrity for we were indeed, simply trying to help.
So was the local police.
Grateful for their gentle care.

It seems there are two entities that have tainted reputations with some folks who are in a tough spot.
As if it is not difficult enough to be homeless, family-less and money-less.
Let’s add a church who runs you off the property and a police department who runs you out of town.
Neither of these happened today.
Again, I’m grateful.

She was hoping to make it back to familiar turf and then, hoping to be arrested.
The “hope” of being arrested means the hope of being in a “home” with food, clothing, showers and safety.
Imagine, all this wrapped up in the promise of jail time.
Shane and I gave her a lift to the launch site for her next destination.

As she climbed out of the Jeep, I recognized, we would most likely never see her again.
We offered to pray for her before she went inside.
I found myself struggling for words.
This was not a parting moment where you offer 2 thumbs up and say, “Happy Trails!”
Nor does it seem like the right moment to say, “Best of luck!”
The reality is, she is headed to a far away city hoping to have an unsettled court case that will offer her safety.

I remember Pentecost.
In the promise of the Holy Spirit we recognize the words of promise include, Presence.
Jesus says, don’t worry–you will not be alone. I will be with you. (exaggerated paraphrase)
Presence is a powerful force.
So, I prayed, remembering that God made this young lady in the secret place.
Nothing in all of creation is hidden from the sight of the Creator.
Even if it appears that all else is lost, we have an ever present help in times of trouble…
If this is true for me, it is true for our midday acquaintance.

She had beautiful eyes when I could catch a glimpse.
It was difficult for her to look-up.
Every time I looked in to her eyes I heard the words, “…whatever you did for the least of these my brother, you did it also for me…”

I learned some valuable truths along with the girl under the stairs today.
I learned some valuable truths along side my pastor today.
In life’s classroom I am taken aback by the work of timing and purpose; and taken by the mighty work of Presence.
Some might say, it was a God thing…

 

 

Advertisement