Stories

This week has consisted of a yelling pastor, a woman whose nephew was just diagnosed with leukemia, a catholic man who just discovered new life, and a recovering addict trying desperately to stay clean.

Of all of these stories I am not sure which one has affected me the most.

The Pastor was yelling, he was rude and he was condescending. He reminded me of the fact that Pastors are human. He also reminded me that sometimes Pastors forget that they are human. Many times they wear the "I'm Entitled" crown. BUT Some pastors are the most gentle people, with servants hearts, and LOVE people. But some are NOT.

The woman whose nephew had just been diagnosed with leukemia was obviously sad. But she was angry and fearful as well. She sat in front of me and wept for a life that she may loose. This precious 6 year old may not make it to 7, but her hope was in a God who could heal him immediately if it was His will.

The Catholic man was the most excited of all the people. He had recently been to a church unlike any he had ever attended. He had grown up Catholic and that is all he had ever known. The repeated prayers, the formal dress, the confessions, the same thing every week (all his words not mine). His wife had been attending a new church but he didn't want any part of it. Finally he gave in and went with her. He said that the lack of "dress code" made him a little uncomfortable (since that is all he had ever known) but when the Pastor explained to him that "dress" was the least of their concerns. Heart and worship have nothing to do with what you wear. He was buying a new Bible for both he and his wife and he couldn't wait to for Sunday.

The last woman came in asking for an NA (Narcotics Anonymous) book. She quickly explained how she had given her book away to someone who she thought needed it more. But now she was desperately in need of help. As she spoke to me I noticed that she had begun to sweat. She said, "I need one of those books and I can't wait until 7:30 tonight at my NA meeting to get a new one because I need it now." By this point she was weeping. Telling me how she is trying so hard to make it, how she is trying to take one step at a time, but today was proving to be too hard. I showed her a couple of books on addiction and then a Bible that is dedicated to the 12 step program. She desperately snatched the bible from my hands and said "I'll take this one".
As she paid for the bible she was able to force a slight smile and then she left. It broke my heart to realize that her NA meeting was only 4 hours away, but to her, that 4 hours was threatening her very life.

The absolute best part of my job is the people I meet and the stories that they tell. God uses each one of these people to impact my life in profound ways. It is daunting for me to sit here in my chair tonight and remember these people and their lives. To think through the fact that they are still living their stories despite the fact that I have clocked out. I pray that I will never forget them or the stories that their lives have told me.