Outreach Oracle:
Each week of outreach comes with its own unique set of challenges. This week’s challenges have been full of tragedy.
One client was killed. Another was shot. Another was given a diagnosis of only having less than a month to live. And another client’s beloved cat was shot and killed.
It is tempting to reserve social media platforms for only posting seemingly perfect situations, but there is space here to also speak about the imperfect messes that occur in all of our lives.
And I am so thankful to know a God who is able to speak a message amidst the mess and heartache.
Most often He does not speak with an audible loud booming voice, or with a trumpet and some angels. Instead He speaks subtly within the seemingly insignificant. In order to hear you must be listening.
“The sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. And when He brings out His own sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.” John 10:3-4
“And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:12
Yesterday a ladybug found it’s way inside the outreach van, and it kept flying around and landing on my arms while driving. After getting to where I was going I felt compelled for some odd reason to take a picture of this little creature. So I did, and for the rest of the day I tried to find out why I felt so compelled to take this picture. This drove me to studying legends/folklore of the ladybug. This was the most compelling one I could find:
In Europe, during the Middle Ages, swarms of insects were destroying the crops. The farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for help. Soon thereafter the Ladybugs came, devouring the plant-destroying pests and saving the crops! The farmers called these beautiful insects "The Beetles of Our Lady", and - over time - they eventually became popularly known as "Lady Beetles". The red wings were said to represent the Virgin's cloak and the black spots were symbolic of both her joys and her sorrows.
Then today as I was preparing to leave work I was informed that my client who had been shot was now at the clinic and hoping to speak to me. After having him come to my office he began to open up about the emotional pain of knowing that his significant other, who was murdered, is now gone.
I attempted to provide some comforting words, but words simply cannot begin to touch the surface of this trauma. Thankfully I have the blessing of working with the wonderful Babs Gresko. She is one of our case managers at the clinic, and is a former bereavement counselor for Hospice. She was able to supply my client with these beautiful ceramic “memory hearts”. Babs poured out a bag of these uniquely designed hearts on my desk, and instructed him to pick out one or two that reminded him the most of her. She suggested these may be helpful to grab onto, hold, feel, and squeeze when thoughts of their loved one came to them.
After selecting the heart on the left he stated that his loved one loved these colors, and liked polka dots. This statement immediately brought me back to the ladybug picture I took yesterday. The heart has almost the same exact placement of dots as the ladybug from yesterday. Coincidence? I think not.
Here in-lies the message within the mess. The harvest of people in need and who are hurting is plentiful, but the sin and brokenness, the insects of this world seem to be damaging more and more crops/clients this week. This ladybug therefore represents God’s voice proclaiming: Yes there is death and destruction happening now, but I am bringing peace. I will protect. There is sorrow, but there is also unspeakable joy.
At times it could be so easy for me to walk away from this job when weeks such as this one occur. But this is not only a job for me. It is a calling, and it is a calling I will continue to answer.
Find your calling! When you find it don’t hang up! Keep answering!
“I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart
I, who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart.”
Each week of outreach comes with its own unique set of challenges. This week’s challenges have been full of tragedy.
One client was killed. Another was shot. Another was given a diagnosis of only having less than a month to live. And another client’s beloved cat was shot and killed.
It is tempting to reserve social media platforms for only posting seemingly perfect situations, but there is space here to also speak about the imperfect messes that occur in all of our lives.
And I am so thankful to know a God who is able to speak a message amidst the mess and heartache.
Most often He does not speak with an audible loud booming voice, or with a trumpet and some angels. Instead He speaks subtly within the seemingly insignificant. In order to hear you must be listening.
“The sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. And when He brings out His own sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.” John 10:3-4
“And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:12
Yesterday a ladybug found it’s way inside the outreach van, and it kept flying around and landing on my arms while driving. After getting to where I was going I felt compelled for some odd reason to take a picture of this little creature. So I did, and for the rest of the day I tried to find out why I felt so compelled to take this picture. This drove me to studying legends/folklore of the ladybug. This was the most compelling one I could find:
In Europe, during the Middle Ages, swarms of insects were destroying the crops. The farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for help. Soon thereafter the Ladybugs came, devouring the plant-destroying pests and saving the crops! The farmers called these beautiful insects "The Beetles of Our Lady", and - over time - they eventually became popularly known as "Lady Beetles". The red wings were said to represent the Virgin's cloak and the black spots were symbolic of both her joys and her sorrows.
Then today as I was preparing to leave work I was informed that my client who had been shot was now at the clinic and hoping to speak to me. After having him come to my office he began to open up about the emotional pain of knowing that his significant other, who was murdered, is now gone.
I attempted to provide some comforting words, but words simply cannot begin to touch the surface of this trauma. Thankfully I have the blessing of working with the wonderful Babs Gresko. She is one of our case managers at the clinic, and is a former bereavement counselor for Hospice. She was able to supply my client with these beautiful ceramic “memory hearts”. Babs poured out a bag of these uniquely designed hearts on my desk, and instructed him to pick out one or two that reminded him the most of her. She suggested these may be helpful to grab onto, hold, feel, and squeeze when thoughts of their loved one came to them.
After selecting the heart on the left he stated that his loved one loved these colors, and liked polka dots. This statement immediately brought me back to the ladybug picture I took yesterday. The heart has almost the same exact placement of dots as the ladybug from yesterday. Coincidence? I think not.
Here in-lies the message within the mess. The harvest of people in need and who are hurting is plentiful, but the sin and brokenness, the insects of this world seem to be damaging more and more crops/clients this week. This ladybug therefore represents God’s voice proclaiming: Yes there is death and destruction happening now, but I am bringing peace. I will protect. There is sorrow, but there is also unspeakable joy.
At times it could be so easy for me to walk away from this job when weeks such as this one occur. But this is not only a job for me. It is a calling, and it is a calling I will continue to answer.
Find your calling! When you find it don’t hang up! Keep answering!
“I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart
I, who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart.”
Joe, you do such a life changing job that is rewarding but also dangerous. Thank you for sharing this and risking your safety daily to help the less fortunate. This story is truly eye opening. This blog will let others see what you see daily, only further spreading awareness on homelessness. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, my son! Follow your heart and calling and keep your eyes on Jesus. He never said it would be easy but He did promise to be with you every step of the way. Ministering to people, especially the broken is so heartbreaking but you are making such a huge difference.
ReplyDeleteGod has, also, blessed you with the gift of expressing yourself in written words. I am always amazed at how beautiful your writing is.
This bets that certainly one 바카라사이트 of 4 numbers will hit on the next spin. The numbers should all be touching and moving a chip into the middle of 4 numbers locations the wager. In this wager, a player is wagering that any quantity in a selected row will hit on the next spin. To make this wager, you should place a chip in the outside line of the row on which you wish to wager. Inside Bets– Bets made on the within section of the roulette table.
ReplyDelete