Boston
Yesterday Hannah and I traveled to Boston to meet up with my dear sweet Gretchen and her sisters. I have never been to Boston, and it is my new favorite city. There is so much history packed into that place, and it is extremely gorgeous/romantic. I am really glad that we were able to go. I can’t wait to return someday so that I can take more time to soak in the importance of the events that took place in history.It was interesting because on the way back to Groton Hannah and I were waiting at the train station and it was late, like midnight. Well, there was a troubled woman who walked by us and began cussing at a sign. She was walking on the train tracks and acting very crazy. Hannah and I prayed for her, and hoped that she would go away. Then a couple of boys came up and started talking with us. It didn’t take long for them to be freaked out by the lady who was still screaming filthy words into the darkness. Finally, she came over to us and looked right at me with hurting tearful eyes and asked us not to laugh at her. She said that it wasn’t funny and we had no idea how hard her life was. I knew she was right. Hannah and I gave her compassion, and assured her that we were praying for her and we understood that it wasn’t funny. We were just laughing because we were a bunch of kids and didn’t think she was funny at all. When she saw our sincerity her eyes changed, and she asked us to forgive her. She said that she often does things she doesn’t want to do, and that there is something wrong. We responded with things like, “it’s ok sweetheart, we know. Don’t worry about it. How about you go take a walk Honey? Deep breaths.” She smiled, and reached out to shake our hands. She was dirty, smelly, and kinda scary. Hannah and I shook her hand. Before this summer there is no way I would have handled that situation. I would have freaked out and mostly likely walked away. When she left the guys were in awe at how calm we were and how calm she ended up. We laughed, and thanked God for the lessons he has taught us this summer. Hannah said, “I could have hugged her.”
“I know, I wanted to take her to the Adult Center and shower her and do devotions.” We laughed then, but it was awesome to realize that God has changed us, and we are that much more equipped to love the “least of these” after this summer. We deal with cussing dirty people all the time around here. God has prepared me, and I am really excited to see how He uses me to minister in His name and for His sake.
posted by Becca @ 9:34 AM
3 Comments:
hmmmmmm......
Awaiting the new post... only bugging you because I love to read them....
Missing you.....Mom
What a bunch of self-serving BS. What a typical Christian hypocrisy you exhibit! How DARE you act like you are better than that woman? It was very telling that you "prayed for her and hoped she would go away." What's wrong? You don't like having to see one of god's beautiful creations? Did it offend your clean moral life. Oh heavens, foul language! Improper hygiene! How will that poor soul ever get into heaven looking like that??? It's probably the right-wing republican social policies you no doubt support that make it so a mentally ill person like that woman doesn't get the care she deserves in this society! Shame on you, deep deep shame, for making someone else's suffering into some cheesy-ass parable for your religious delusions. Don't pat yourself on the back for showing some basic human compassion, for barely repressing the urge to judge her and feel superior to her: that compassion is more easily arrived at without having to pretend it comes from God. How truly fucking disgusting you people are.
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