Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: BACK TO BASICS (02/16/17)
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TITLE: In From The Cold | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jack Taylor
02/20/17 -
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I was outside shoveling the snow from off the sidewalk in front of the church - just your basic service as a pastor.
The city was a veritable fairyland of pure magic as tires shushed cautiously by in the knee deep quilt of white – lights probing through the thick veil all around. Strong trees proudly outlined their limbs in stark light flakes while weaker trees bowed humbly under the weight of the gathering ‘manna’ from heaven. Salt trucks and snow plows somehow missed this edge of our metropolis.
She was almost hidden in the shadows of our church sign – hardly covered. Basic skinny jeans. Young, thin grey hoodie hiding auburn locks, hands tucked under her armpits, hugging herself.
I approached her tentatively – looking for eye contact. “You look cold,” I started.
She dug her chin in tighter to her chest.
“Want to come inside for a few minutes for coffee? It’s basic but it’s warm in there.”
She reached down with bare hands and picked up a blue back pack – shaking it gently to dislodge the shroud of snow that had buried it. “Thanks. I’ve been walking in this stuff for 3 days. Slept outside Starbucks on the sidewalk last night.”
I slid the shovel along in front of us as we forged our way to the waiting doorway. Her tennis shoes seemed like slim protection against the plunging red line on the thermometer. “I’m John.”
“Katie.”
One of our greeters swung the door open – wearing a basic smile and opened armed for a basic hug. “Pastor, you think anyone will show up today?”
I turned to Katie. “There’s already someone here. She’s cold. Get her warmed up while I finish shoveling.”
Within twenty minutes others took over the walk clearing and I shook off the cloak of white to catch up with Katie. She was sitting in the auditorium cradling her coffee in slightly shaking hands. One of our new refugees, Sheba was sitting beside her for company. Basic ministry of presence.
I held out a fresh pair of gloves to Katie – “I’ve got an extra pair. These are designed to keep you warm on the coldest night.”
“Thanks,” she said as I slumped down two chairs away. She set down her coffee beside a half-eaten muffin, took the woolen gloves, put them on and wiggled her fingers as if something wondrous had captured her hands.
“No place to stay?” I asked. “I’ve got a list of shelters we can get you to.”
She looked up at my chin. “I was in a shelter three days ago – got abused – I’m not going back.”
“Far from home?”
“Left there 11 years ago – ain’t got no home. I don’t want to talk about it.”
Other women gathered and I left Katie in their capable care.
She sat in the back row through the service, hugging her knees, staring at me wide eyed as I released the word over the remnant scattered among the empty chairs. Just your basic message of rebuilding your relationship with a God who gave his life for you. She had the look of a beggar smelling fresh baked bread somewhere nearby.
After the benediction, the few courageous storm survivors did what our church family always does. The basic hugs and warm friendliness of welcoming. It didn’t take her long to send me that ‘deer in the headlights’ look.
I stepped in and offered her a phone to call someone. A basic courtesy. She huddled in my office for an hour while I finished up the farewells.
Sheba and a friend joined me as we braved the roads to get Katie to a motel. I was heading out of town for a week and I paid for her room in advance. Katie stood in the doorway and examined the two queen sized beds, the private washroom and the small kitchenette. “Wow!”
“It’s basic,” I said “but it’ll meet your needs.”
She stepped inside and set down her backpack. In a second she stepped forward for hugs from all of us. Sheba gave her a piece of paper with a phone number so Katie could keep up basic communication if needed. The street girl stared at it and nodded.
“Anything else you need to get you back to basics?” I asked.
She smiled. “Would you happen to have a Bible? I don’t know what God’s trying to do but I think I understand the basics now.”
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