The Empty Stairwell

I am acquainted with this  church where there is an enclosed stairwell where the homeless sleep in search of safety and shelter. A couple of weeks ago I discovered a couple pairs of feet sticking out of the stairwell. I didn't want to wake them at first so I went to the copy room which doubles as my office and read my bible.

I did not hear an audible voice but God spoke to my heart as clear as can be. He said "Pastor Dean, make them breakfast" I thought about it awhile, threw the fleece out then went to work in the kitchen fixing up a couple of plates of food consisting of scrambled eggs,  cut up hot dogs and a bun. The plates were then wrapped with tin foil.

When I went back out to the couple sleeping in our stairwell I must have startled them as they were very eager to leave without incident.
"We don't want any trouble, we will leave" said the young man.
"Wait" I said "I made you breakfast"

Their eyes widened and both of their jaws dropped. They were hungry and also needed to use our restrooms. After all their immediate physical needs were met I was able to talk with them to find out how they had arrived here. Then I was able to share Christ and pray with them. Although I'm convinced people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Actions speak louder than words.

Eddie and Joanna were Native American Indians from the Rincon tribe. Eddie is 20 years old and Joanna, I later found out later, is 24 years old. Eddie just was released from jail on a petty theft charge he was caught shoplifting food from a mini mart in La Mesa. He was trying to support his family the only way he knew how in this economy.

The stairwell has been used by many street travelers over the years as a safe haven for the night. These kids were no exception. They had no where to go. I have been homeless myself before so I can totally relate to their situation. My problem was not these kids sleeping there but the rest of the church body and church staff. It seems that our church did not want people sleeping there for various reasons.

"Its against the law" said one church staffer.
"We were told by the police not to let people sleep on our property." said an associate pastor.
"Pastor Dean, please don't encourage them to sleep here" said someone else.
"I had to paint the stairwell 2 times last week because they really messed it up" said the maintenance man.
So the decision was made and signs went up in the stairwell " No sleeping allowed in the stairwell".

This is where my heart broke. These could be my own children. Jesus taught us to help others. Why is it so hard to love people? Why is it so hard just to turn a blind eye, help the best we can and just continue to clean up the stairwell?

The dawn came early today as I arrived to do my cleaning of the church before everyone began to arrive. As I passed the empty stairwell all bright and clean with a brand new coat of paint I remembered Eddie and Joanna and the expression on their faces as they ate their breakfast. I guess the right decision has been made. But I know an opportunity to reach out to 2 souls was missed. So the last few nights passed without the restlessness of Eddie and Joanna constant turning in an attempt to find a comfortable spot.

I wonder if the people quoted above would have made the same decision if it was their own loved ones sleeping outside on the street in a stairwell? Meanwhile sirens wail out on El Cajon Blvd as another victim is transported to Grossmont Hospital. Why is it so hard to bend the rules and  hold up people higher than material things or keeping up appearances?

Well I know where there is an empty, cold stairwell on El Cajon Blvd tonight. A lonely stairwell that once kept two young souls safe from the dangers of a night on the streets of La Mesa. Now it is a very bright and shiny stairwell with a fresh coat of gray colored paint,  one might even go as far as to call its appearance pristine. But as for me I liked it better dirty, urine soaked, cigarette ashes caught in the corners  but safe refuge from a long cold night. I liked it better with two pairs of warm human feet sticking out.

(I wonder which stairwell Jesus Christ would have preferred? I ponder as to whether our church would have let even Him sleep there?) WWJD

When Friends May Come

I love life! Don't you? True friends riding along with us make the entire journey worth it! Life is so very  fragile and temporary though. Many of my friends have cancer. And yesterday I received a text from a friend whose wife was just admitted to the ER suffering from a heart attack. Prayer should be our first reaction and our best defence against the bumps in life's road. Prayer is refreshing water during the long, dry and parched journey through the desert valleys that we all walk through.

As many of you know I have been without steady work for almost two years. I have tried advertising, sale pitches and fasting and prayer. As my son Erik put it while talking to a group of his friends " My dad just cant get a break!".

One day as I was running my errands I stopped at the Old Firehouse Barber Shop located in Alpine CA. Dean Poore, the owner,  listened to me talk about my plight while he snipped and cut at my hair. Have you ever noticed that if the barber is enjoying the conversation that they will cut very slowly and prolong the cut. Dean listened to me and afterward offered me a remodeling job on his own kitchen. He also did not charge me for the hair cut. That simple act of grace really encouraged me that day.

On another occasion in the midst of the same dry spell it seemed like all my electrical appliances were dying one after another. First our heating and air conditioning system failed in July followed by clothes dryer, cooking range, well pump and our refrigerator. The air system and well pump cost over $10,000 alone to replace. So after the refrigerator broke last night Pam and I turned towards one another, smiled and laughed out loud! What else was there to do? Pam is my wife but she is also my very best friend.

When our well pump went out that did tend to complicate life for our family. You see we get our water from the ground and when our tank is empty we have no water to wash, drink or shower with. So I called our well guy, Orin Davis of Butler Drilling, and he said he could be there in a week. "A week" I said to myself  "What am I going to tell my wife?". Pam does at least 10 loads of laundry per week and waters the trees and plants around our home. I knew we were going to have a bad week.

The next day as our booster pump was spinning out of control the telephone rings. It was Mert Thomas who runs a local water truck business "Hey Dean, I heard  you need a load of water?" said Mert with  concern in his voice. "I do how much are you charging these days?" I sheepishly inquired. "Well $200 per load" Mert replied. "OK, I need it badly bring it on over" I gratefully replied.

Mert Thomas had already put in a full day of work but he filled his truck one more time and brought our family a load of water. After the very last drop fell into our tank I asked Mert how much I owed him. He said he knew of my situation and said just to pay $ 100 to cover the water and the truck's fuel. As I went into the house for the money I hear Mert taking off in his truck and with a wave and he says Goodbye and  "God is so very good. This one's on me!"  I will never be able to repay him.

What would we do without friends like these? In fact the only thing we will take to heaven when we leave this earth is our relationships with others. I truly love these men. And now work is starting to come in for me which is an answer to prayer. And I learned a very valuable lesson while walking through this latest valley. I have some very amazing and loyal friends. People I would lay down my life for. I love life! It really is all about the journey.