Glimpses of God's Sovereignty

With God's ordained hand on all the functions of this universe, it is humbling when He allows you to be in tune with His sovereign hand in the microcosm of your own life.  The past couple of days have proven to be such an experience for me.

My job allows me to spend much time in the community meeting other leaders who are interested in seeing our city flourish.  In the Southside community, there is a coalition that is forming of like-minded folks who want to work together to see the neighborhood thrive.  One of those coalition members is a group called "Anthony's Plot," a missional community invested in Southside.  While I have met with folks from Anthony's Plot for months, I haven't had the opportunity to visit their home until Thursday when they hosted a meeting about creating activities for Southside children and youth during the summer months.  Being a gracious host, Russ showed me around the house mentioning that there were four people currently living in the house and that they kept one bedroom open for neighbors who found themselves without a place to spend the night.  I was briefly humbled by this notion and then quickly consumed with the meeting agenda and then quickly consumed with life beyond the meeting.

The following day was busy with meetings and to-do lists and incoming interns, etc.  The craziness was set to continue into the night with our weekly Friday night softball game.  With a heavy 5:30 pm rain storm, our 6:30 pm game was cancelled.  Ron and I found ourselves with a free night - a great treasure for us.  Ron suggested we go to Macaroni Grill, one of my favorite restaurants.  I was excited to have a leisurely dinner with him and our good friends, the Mocks. 

After dinner Ron glanced behind the restaurant and saw Barnes and Nobles.  Being a book and magazine lover, he suggested we go and peruse the inventory.  On the way to the store I noticed that my friend Rachel B. had called me.  I thought it a little strange as we didn't have plans to hang out and there was really no reason for her to call me.  I called her back before walking in the store, but it went straight to her voicemail.  Leaving a message, I assumed she'd call me back if it was urgent.  We walked into Barnes and Nobles ready to spend some time getting lost in reading when the first person we see is Rachel B.  How ironic! 

When we saw Rachel she was on the phone with another friend of ours and had a woman to her side.  She quickly hung up the phone and introduced us to Shamia (not her real name).  Shamia had approached Rachel in the parking lot asking her if she knew of any churches in the area.  She explained that she did not have anywhere to go tonight.  Her mother in prison, her dad absent, her grandmother who raised her dead, her cousin who was allowing her to stay with her kicking her out, at the age of 21 she found herself homeless.  She had spent several days at The Bethesda Center for Homeless.  Leaving the shelter with a guy who promised to let her live with him and being kicked out of that house because of an angry ex-girlfriend, Shamia found herself with no options.  She couldn't return to The Bethesda Center.  The Salvation Army was full.  She was literally homeless with no place to lay her head that night.

Going into community ministry mode I quickly got on the phone and started making some phone calls.  I called some friends who are intimately connected with the Salvation Army; no answer.  I called The Bethesda Center; an impatient woman confirmed that if Shamia had been asked to leave for 30 days it was because she did not follow protocol and there were no exceptions.  I called The Salvation Army shelter and they confirmed that they were out of beds.  Our options were dwindling and I could tell Shamia was rightly anxious about where she would spend the night.  Suddenly I remembered my tour of Anthony's Plot and Russ's words of setting aside a room for neighbors who have nowhere to spend the night.  I didn't have Russ's number, so I texted another friend who gave it to me.  I called Russ and explained the situation to him.  He got information from Shamia and made several phone calls.  Finally he said he and the rest of his house mates want to come meet with Shamia.  They wanted to share how their house functions and see if she would feel comfortable staying with them.  I think Shamia, Rachel, and I were all in shock.  Could people really be so gracious? 

While waiting for Russ and co. to meet us, Rachel and I had a great time with Shamia.  Rachel told us about the no-tardy dance party at her school that day and how she was learning all these new dances.  Shamia quickly got on my phone and looked up the videos to the songs letting us see the "professionals" bust their moves.  I think our favorite was the "cat daddy."  The basic move imitated rolling yourself in a wheelchair.  You think I'm kidding?  Look it up.  We laughed and laughed about this dance.  Shamia was hungry so we went and got some Chick-fil-a.  By the time she ate and we looked up some more dance videos, the folks from Anthony's Plot arrived.  Rachel and I excused ourselves, and they talked to Shamia.  I didn't hear much of the conversation, but I know they were explaining how their house functions and asked her if she had any questions.  Her one question was if they were safe.  Great question for a single 21 year old woman anticipating the prospect of spending the night with four strangers.  They assured her that they were safe.

The Anthony's Plot folks went off to talk amongst themselves and so Rachel and I joined Shamia.  I could see the relief on her face.  The Anthony's Plot people were gentle and kind and warm; that was obvious.  It was looking like she would be able to stay with them at least for a night.  They came back and offered her an initial week at their house.  They explained that they have a flow to their house and that they would want her to enter that flow.  They started their day with prayer, they ate meals together, they served together, they had different tasks around the house; she was no exception to this flow if she moved in.  With several questions and a gentle hesitant smile, she agreed.  One of the AP guys asked if she was hungry.  When she said yes, he replied by saying, "you will go to bed full tonight."  They said they wanted to not only take care of the obvious physical needs she had, but also help her get connected to organizations and ministries that will help her get on her feet.  They wanted to see her thrive and, for as long as she was part of their house, use her gifts to bless the house and neighborhood.  As the AP folks prepared to leave, I said to Shamia, "Remember that these are Christians, this is the Church, who is caring for you.  These are people who love Jesus."

Both Rachel and I were teary eyed.  So many thoughts and scripture passages flooded my mind as I reviewed the night.  I had to acknowledge my internal wrestling of mistrust and of selfishness versus a deep compassion for Shamia and recognition that God had hand led us to her.  I thought of Matthew 25 where Jesus equated feeding the hungry with doing it unto Him.  I thought of Isaiah 58 where God described genuine religion as one who provides the poor wanderer with shelter and is the rebuilder of broken walls.  I thought of the the Good Samaritan.  But most of all I thought of Jesus who had been compassionate unto death for the sake of a poor hopeless sinner like me.

Morgan and I drove Shamia to retrieve her bags that she had stored at the bus station and a stranger's house.  While she was getting one of her bags, Morgan explained to me that they had been praying for God to bring someone just like Shamia to them.  They so badly wanted to take in neighbors who had no where to go and help them get back on their feet.  Shamia jumped back in the car and we headed to Anthony's Plot.  We arrived and Shamia walked right on in.  She had her own room.  She had people around her who were going to share life with her.  She had a smile on her face.  With a hug and a commitment to keep up with each other, I walked downstairs and prepared to leave.  Russ was on the front porch swinging on their porch swing.  I thanked him for his gracious hospitality.  I told him he and his companions looked a lot like Jesus.  And I left.

What a night and what a gracious God I serve!  Pray for Shamia and for Anthony's Plot.  And pray that God's Kingdom would come in Winston-Salem as it is in heaven.