A Tear-Jerking Visitor’s Card
This is a true story. I wish parts of it weren’t true, but it is.
As the services finished, I followed “preacher protocol,” and stood at the back of the building. There was wonderful conversation, hand-shaking, and the joy of Christian fellowship. As I try to do, I made an extra effort to “catch” anyone I didn’t recognize and be sure to introduce myself and thank them for coming.
As I was talking with a couple of our wonderful young folks, a guest came up to me. I will admit, he didn’t smell all that great, and he looked a little dingy, but he had a big smile on his face. I will call him “Joe.”
I said, “I’m Adam Faughn, and we’re glad you were with us tonight.” That’s when he held up his visitor’s card to hand to me. Across the front, there was no name, no address, no phone number…nothing.
Except one word.
“Homeless.”
I tried to keep my face from dropping, and I continued to talk with him for a moment. “Joe” (no that isn’t his name) told me that he was a member of another congregation (one that I recognized), and had been for years, but just couldn’t get there on that night. He said he knew where we were, so he came to be with us for our evening services.
I have to admit, I was skeptical, but I took him at his word, and thanked him for coming. I said to him, “We sure are glad you chose to be with us tonight.”
And that was it. He walked through the lobby, speaking to some other folks, and headed out. As far as I could tell, he still had that smile on his face.
Why do I say that I wish part of this story weren’t true?
Well, of course, I don’t want anyone to be homeless. I want people to enjoy the same comforts of a home as I do.
But there is more.
I wish I had said more. Why didn’t I ask how we could help? Why didn’t I ask how we could help more homeless people? Why didn’t I ask for some way to stay in touch with him, even if it was just a place to meet from time-to-time?
It haunts me, because I want to do better. I want everyone–from billionaires to people with no place to lay their head–to know that we care. I want everyone to feel that we are not just some place to show up to worship, but that we are a family that strives to help.
Lord, please send “Joe” back to us at some point in the future, so I can get to know him better. Forgive me for missing an opportunity to seek ways to help. Soften my heart, and let me know how better to “go near” to the hurting. In other words, help me be like Jesus. Amen.
QUESTION: Why is it so hard, in the moment, to actually reach out and help?
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Photo credit: James Fischer on creative commons
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5 Comments
Robbie Mackenzie
Great post Adam. I think there are multiple reasons why we do not reach out and some are understandable and some are, quite frankly, sinful. Sometimes we get busy and schedules get in the way of seeing a simple need. Sometimes the person is seen as an inconvenience for we will have to miss something or it will cost us something. Sometimes we do not help because we judge those who we should help as if we are able to discern people based on first impressions (even though we sometimes can). Finally, I think we do not help because sometimes we do not have eyes to see and ears to hear.
None of those may apply to you but I have been guilty of all of them. Thanks for this post.
Btw…your friend may never come back but God sends other people to you for help and other people for your friend. It’s not all up to you.
Jim Faughn
That’s an experience I don’t think I’ve had. I probably would have done exactly what you did and would be feeling exactly how you are feeling now. I DO hope that “Joe” comes back.
Georgi Salisbury Emerson
Don’t beat yourself up too badly. Sometimes a situation is so unexpected it catches us off-guard and leaves us fumbling for the right thing to say. I’m sure you weren’t expecting to encounter a homeless person in your regular “meet and greet” at the end of services. But you DID greet him, acknowledge him, thank him, and that’s probably a lot more acceptance than he receives out on the street. If you haven’t already, you could always contact the congregation he’s affiliated with and see if they have a way of contacting him or at least give you some insight on the best way to help him should he visit Lebanon Rd. again.
Lynn Averett
This encounter is all part of the process in your heart softening and learning how to go near to the hurting. I don’t believe it happened in vain.
Vonna in Marion
May God Bless You and help your heart to heal by sending others in need your way. I know he will !
A friend and sister in Christ.