Abundance at the Doorstep

There he was.  Comfortably situated on the front steps, he was.  We will call him “Andy.”  I thought I recognized him the first time I passed but didn’t speak.

It was a shady spot.  Good place for a breather and a smoke.  He wasn’t in anyone’s way. It was Friday and these steps wouldn’t be needed until Sunday. Doors were locked. All the doors locked, each entrance around that church building. Locked. It was Friday noon. I tried an entrance on the other side of the building. Locked. There was a phone number to call. No answer. Disappointed, as I wanted to introduce my friend De’Amon to some of the folks there, we retraced our steps. Andy was still resting on the front steps. 

His gear was scattered around him on the steps – helmet, belt pack, notebook, lighter. In front of him, between us, a nice bicycle, a good barrier – just in case.  De’Amon and I approached. I caught his eye and opened with “Don’t I know you?  You seem so familiar to me.” His eyes sparkled and his handsome ebony features all seemed to join the fun. “No, don’t think so.” I took off my hat so he could catch a clearer view. “You kinda familiar, but I don’t recall.  I used to work in a nursing home in town, perhaps you knew me there.” 

“Yeh, I think that’s it,” I responded. “I think I knew you back when.”  He smiled, “I worked there for almost twenty years – of course that was a while ago.”  Laughing I said, “I think you nailed it; I remember you there.”  “Good work it was,” he replied, “but I got tired of seeing my friends die.”

I could have walked by but didn’t. You see, I was with the original “Roving Listener,” De’Amon Harges. He has listened tens of thousands into friendship. He can discover human-buried-treasures. He finds a depth of resources so often overlooked. De’Amon has helped establish networks of mutuality where others saw only poverty, alienation, or separation. He has taught thousands of folks around the world, from all social strata, about the value of social capital, the value of “neighboring.” 

What choice did I have? It was like a test, a gift, a challenge, and Andy was there right beside us.  I broke the ice.  Off we went. De’Amon asked Andy about his work, his history, where he grew up, what he does best, what he is hoping to do in the future.  We found out Andy had his own business, cleaning buildings.  Had enough work to hire some others as well. “But they better be willing to work. I mean, seriously, it is my name on the business.”  We got Andy’s phone number and thanked him for the visit.

As we left, I whispered to De’Amon “There it is, abundance on the doorstep of the church.”  We laughed and knew this story would one day be in a sermon. But would such gifts, such opportunities remain outside?