Page 8 - Good News July 2015 paper

nce a young couple lost the child's death, but the old
their only child, a woman didn't utter a single word.
Obeautiful three-year-old Instead, she tenderly wrapped
daughter, as a result of a freak her arms around the heartbroken
accident. Unable to justify this couple's shoulders, and together
tragedy with their concept of a they cried the hurt away.
oe was a drunk who was into the Mission, and to undress loving God, they went to their Sometimes when theological
miraculously converted at a and tuck into bed men who were minister for help. "Why?" they answers are not easy to the
JBowery Mission. Prior to his too “out of it” to take care of them- asked. "It was God's will," the complex misfortunes of life,
conversion, he had gained the selves. preacher told them. perhaps we just need to hush our
reputation of being a dirty wino The couple just couldn't accept babblings. Sometimes when
for whom there was no hope, only One evening, when the Director of that the passing of their little answers aren't easy, our best
a miserable existence in the the Mission was delivering his daughter could somehow serve statement is silent caring.
ghetto. But following his conver- evening evangelistic message to God's will, and they sought out -Selected
sion to a new life in Christ, every- the usual crowd of still and sullen another preacher
thing changed! men with drooped heads, there friend. He quoted
was one man who looked up, yards of Scrip-
Joe became the most caring came down the aisle to the altar ture, trying to give
person that anyone associated and knelt to pray, crying out to them comfort, but
with the Mission, had ever known. God to help him change. The his verses fell on
Joe spent his days and nights repentant drunk kept shouting, deaf ears.
hanging out at the Mission, doing “Oh God! Make me like Joe! Make Finally, the young
whatever needed to be done. me Like Joe! Make me like Joe!” couple turned to a
There was never anything that he f r a i l e l d e r l y
was asked to do that he conside- The Director of the Mission leaned woman in their
red beneath him, whether it was over and said to the man “Son, I church. Surely,
cleaning up the vomit left by some think it would be better if you she could give
http://www.wnyc.org/
violently sick alcoholic or scrub- prayed, ‘Make me like Jesus.’” them a reason for
bing toilets after careless men left The man looked up at the Director
the men's room filthy. Joe did with a quizzical expression on his
what was asked with a smile on face and asked, “Is He like Joe?”
his face and seeming gratitude for The greatest sermon we can ever
the chance to help. He could be preach is not spoken. It is Lived!
counted on to feed feeble men [From Tears in my Heart, James
who wandered off the street and Collins, Xulon Press, USA, 2007].