I’ve never met someone with savantism. 
The other day I met a man in a park and we began to talk about books. I quickly realized this person wasn’t who I thought he was. He looked uneducated, probably inebriated and homeless. What I found this person to be was a human dictionary. He not only knew more about science and languages than I ever will but could recite passages of books by page number and footnote. He told us that he reads books backwards sometimes to help him take in more information. He knew history, geography, even what each lottery numbers were and the payoff. I felt like Tom Cruz in the movie “Rain Man”, a yuppie that gets humbled by the love and understanding of an unlikely relationship.
There’s more stories of friends I’ve made here in Belfast. Working with many outreach ministries here its been amazing getting to know wonderful people all over the area. From our base church, Fisherwick Presb., Beautiful Feet, Storehouse Ministries, Crescent Church, Laganside New Churches Initiative, S.O.S. Bus (just to name a few). I almost want to call Belfast home.
Some of us are too self-centered to care. Some of us are too self-righteous to do anything about it. I’ve been both and neither has led to the amount of life I’ve found in developing friendships with the poor and homeless. How many times I’ve walked past someone in need because I had an appointment to get to or personal agenda to keep. We live in a culture the elevates personal achievement over communal support. When I stop and take time for someone that is hurting, lonely, hungry, lost, broken, the comatose path I’ve walked shatters and my soul comes alive in a way that screams restoration for them…. and for me. Justice and community come together in the form that can only be described as Christ empowering the Church.
