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I was tired, hungry, cranky, and my head felt like a fog bank had rolled in and covered all coherent thought. It had been a warp speed day on very low energy. Lots to get done, faster and faster, how many projects can I juggle at once, how many things can I complete.
As I drove to the church, which has graciously allowed us to use their building for Fill-A-Belly (our homeless ministry), I tried to calm my racing mind. So much to do, tickets to Swaziland to book, support letters to send out, e-mails and phone calls to return. I was caught up in my self.
As I swung open the door to the large bright kitchen the beauty of what I saw whipped away my self-focus.
My sister Molly was running the kitchen while Kim* gently sprinkled cheese on the casseroles. Her face, weathered from years of living on the streets, radiated with joy at performing the simple task. “Some time I’ve got to make you girls my lasagna. It’s good stuff, pounds of every ingredient.� As she spoke it hit me that she most likely doesn’t get many opportunities to cook living in a camp site near the freeway off ramp.
Ron* was moving around briskly, I could smell the alcohol on his breath and nicotine on his clothing, but he was a man on a mission. We had forgotten creamer. He ran, literally, to the store to buy some for us. On the way back he picked up a hungry traveler from the bus station and brought him in. “This guy needs some food in his stomach. He is hungry. I found him, told him about you all and brought him in. Us travelers we got to help each other. In fact you have helped me so much that now I want to help others.�
After eating a delicious meal together, Steve* stayed late, wiped off every table and ran the vacuum cleaner. He refused to catch the bus back to his tent hidden in the bushes until every last crumb was cleaned.
I joke around about how Fill-a-Belly breaks down the buffet line barrier found in most homeless ministries, but it’s true. We serve each other, give to each other, and learn from each other. A few weeks ago one of the men gave Molly a beautiful necklace he had made because he wanted her to know how much he appreciated all she does.
Sometimes I’m so deep in my own world that I forget to notice the beauty that’s all around me. I’m grateful for the moments when God allows me to glimpse true beauty instead of viewing the world through my to-do list.
* Names Changed
