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January 2008 |
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Body, Mind & Spirit |
The least of these
By Todd Outcalt
toutcalt@calvaryunited.org
This past month my family attended the final regular-season Colts football game
at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, courtesy of some church members who were kind
enough to give us their tickets. That evening as we huddled toward the dome, we
scurried past several men who were stationed at various street corners, each
jostling a plastic cup filled with coins. Seeing these homeless men brought back
memories of an old friend - Jerald - who, for several years, seemed woven into
the fabric of my life and ministry.
I first met Jerald when he came into my office demanding money for bus fare. He was, at first glance, a guy who seemed more than a little down on his luck. After some conversation, it was apparent that he suffered from mental illness, was a danger to no one but himself and had a dry sense of humor. Over time, as I came to know him, he often surprised me with his depth of knowledge about history, science and religion. Much of my time with Jerald was spent trying to find him shelter, food or medical help, but in between these weekly or monthly adventures, we would often talk about life.
Jerald died about a year ago and I, along with three or four other pastors, made up his funeral entourage as we laid him to rest in a pauper's grave north of Lebanon. Each of us said a few words and tried to recollect a life lived on the streets, but also a life we had known by name and each tried to help in tangible ways. We were amazed at the ways God had used Jerald to touch our lives and to bring joy into the lives of others.
I thought of Jerald again walking to the Colts game and wondered how, in 2008, our collective expressions of love might touch even the least of God's children. We are most often at home and often feel that we are at our best as a church, when we are ministering to those who are approachable, loveable, clean and financially secure. But in God's eyes, we are fulfilling Christ's love when we minister to the least of these.
I hope 2008 will help us to see the least, the last and the lost in our communities and be able to find new friends in people like Jerald.
Todd Outcalt serves as senior pastor of Calvary UMC in Brownsburg, Ind. His new blog is toddoutcalt.blogspot.com and some of his latest writing can be found in digital form on www.Amazon.com.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008