The Bible Still Happens...

[David Hodges]

So a bunch of us misfit ragamuffins were sitting around talking oneday and we decided that when the Bible says that if you have two shirts give one to the poor, what it really means is that if you have two shirts give one to the poor. We also decided that Jesus really meant it when He said to love your neighbor, and we're pretty sure about that whole "As much as you've done it to the least of these you've done it unto Me" bit too. So we started getting up early on Saturdays, making a pile of burritos, and walking the streets to share them with the homeless and the hungry. Free food (and shirts too, of course). No strings attached (grace?).

We've been out every Saturday morning now since August of '07, rain or shine (though, strangely, it hasn't rained on a Saturday during our walk yet). We have a lot of homeless friends now. They teach us and give us more than we could ever have imagined when we started. The lines between "Us" and "Them" are being erased, and now its more like just "Us". On Saturday evenings our little band of refugees gathers to sing and pray and eat (church?), and we share a lot of stories from the morning around the table. Here's one of my favorites.

It was a clear day and the Scriptures were coming to life before my eyes. First I'll share the passage that I watched breathe, and then I'll tell you what happened.


The Scripture:

Mark 12:38-44
As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely." Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

The Story:

We start our walks each week in a place we call "The Square". It's a quaint little park in the center of downtown with huge shade trees, a stage for free concerts, and an expensive monument to Dr. King. There are a lot of homeless people there. From there we walk on down to another larger park right on the intracostal. It has a lot of green space, another larger stage for bands that are big enough to charge admission, and an unobstructed view of the multi-million dollar mansions across the waterway. There are a lot of homeless people there.

This particular week it was packed at the Square and by the time we got to the next park we were out of food. We went out to the dock to see our friends anyway and at least spend some time talking together. One of our friends, Larry, was there, and you could see the light fade from his eyes when we told him we we didn't have any food left. Larry was hungry. After we all spent some time talking about our lives that week, we said our good-byes and turned to leave. As the rest of the group headed down the trail, Larry called me back.

"Hey", he said. "I've been meanin to give this to y'all." He pulled two crumpled dollars out of his worn jeans pocket. "Thank you for what y'all are doin'. I wanna do my part."

I almost cried right there. Larry did what I could not. He gave everything - and God smiled.

The Bible still happens.

Hebrews 4:12
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

God is everywhere working if we have the eyes to see. Oh God, give us Your eyes!

[David Hodges]

amen.