Homeless Stories: Joseph

If there is any one thing I get to be a part of that I would cry about not being able to continue, it would be the trips to the parking lot in Knoxville, Tennessee with our students to serve homeless people grilled burgers & hot dogs.  Each time we go, we see people we’ve met before and we see some new faces, too.

Sunday, July 25th, was the last time I was there as of this writing. I’d missed the month before because of my surgery. With the weather hot & humid, the index expected to hit 115 degrees, I questioned my own sanity, and made all the preparations to go. I came back with some wonderful stories to share.

As I sat in a chair, talking over some changes we might consider for this ongoing ministry with another of the leaders, Joseph came up. He asked Brian, the other leader, if he could tell him what that non-denominational thing about our church meant. Nothing like some tough questions! He was specifically interested to know if we handled snakes (we don’t), if we were more stiff-necked like Baptists (his words, not mine) or wild like the Pentecostals. We shared with him that we believe the Bible and if it’s in there we teach it, if it’s not we don’t.

I explained to him that when it comes to worship, we want each person to be led by the Holy Spirit. If he leads a person to raise their hands, or jump up and down, that person had better be doing that. But if the Spirit isn’t the one leading it, that person had better be still. We talked about dressing casually — that we care more about what’s on the inside than on the outside.

Joseph shared with us that two years ago he had lain on an overpass near where we were — left for dead. He’d been hit by an automobile. His shoulder was crushed, legs mangled, his body broken and bruised. He told of doctors who had told his family he would be a vegetable — little if any brain function and certainly no movement.

Yet here he stood before us, the slightest of limps as he walked, no speech impediment, no problems moving and using his hands. Matter of fact, he’s back at  work as a diesel mechanic — something he was very proud of. We’ll talk more about pride in a minute.

Next, Joseph told us that he knew God had placed a calling on his life, had saved his life and restored him physically for a special reason, but that he doesn’t want it.  When I questioned that logic, he told me that he doesn’t want to be a hypocrite — and he can’t love everyone. If he goes into a ministry, he’ll have to love people and he’s not ready to do that.

While it was refreshing to hear the total honesty, it was startling to hear someone say the words. We talked for nearly an hour, with our student pastor joining in the conversation. We answered his excuses. We shared scripture — he knew many of them, but he seems to only know them in his head, not his heart — not in the deepest parts of him that make them a part of his life.

When asked if he was a Christian, he forcefully explained that “Christian means Christ-like. I’m nothing like Christ. I’m like the Pharisees, a white-washed tomb full of dead men’s bones.”

He talked about his anger issues and through his words we could hear the arrogant pride and blatant racism that fills him. When he told us he was going to leave, I asked him to hold my hand, then our student pastor, Logan, and another man from church also touched Joseph and we prayed for him. Logan asked God to reveal Himself to Joseph in ways he could not deny.

Before he left, he started in again making excuses why he can’t take on this calling — citing PTSD and other issues. I smiled up at him and ever so sweetly told him, “And I have menopause. Next?”

He was out of excuses.

He walked away from us with a smile. I am continuing to pray for this young man. So much potential. So much life. So much anger and hurt wrapped up inside him. Obviously, God’s got a plan for him. I just pray he’ll accept it.

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