Today was another day of wonderment and awe. It went from watching God walk through the doors, and just trying to keep up. I hear many different references to the DDC. It has been refered to as, The Gates of Hell, The place where angels fear to tread, The Devil's Stronghold, The place where dreams go to die and may other things as such. At the same right, I have heard many positive things. It is hard at times to see the works of God there, you become innundated with so much negativiy at it's primal level. Recently a man was targeted and run down in a parking lot, he was killed, the only thing that people can figure out, he was killed for being homeless. There are also two more 8 x 11 memoriams for two others who no longer roam the halls. Once again, some will ignore the memoriams for they have become numb to them, but you will also see people who will stop, look at them, and write a small note on them, like 'I love you, you will be missed', 'I will miss your smiling face', or 'you are in a place of no sorrow or suffering now, please pray for us that are left behind.' It is a place where people have come when the rest of society has written them off. A place where 'dreams go to die.' And yet, today I was honored to pray for someone new, I listened to a debate between 4 people on how, 'you reap what you sow', was able to play some music with some other talented artists, was asked for a bible, met some new brothers and sisters, was able to give some much needed sleeping and survival equipment to folks who desperately needed it, watched 3 strangers help a man who is terminally ill and on his last leg to get his bed ready, and to hold a bible study. All in one day. God is good.
The morning had been a good morning, we had been discussing Saul who became Paul, and some of the scripture he had written. I have always felt very akin to Paul, since things in my life have changed some, I can relate, and so can many others. We had been reading 2 Corinthians and discussing it. Funny part, that is how our daily discussions have changed, I have had the priviledge to see the converstions change from, who had what and how was it going to be used for, to everyone sharing their theories and thoughts on so many different sections of the bible and how it related to their lives and how they could just see and feel these things that the bible spoke of. From miracles and wonders to the many temptations that the devil and his crew laid before all of us on a daily basis. We had all spoke of how we felt, unadulterated and understanding one another. The best part of it, when this started, it was me and Two Wheeler Greg, and now, there are about a dozen of us who join in the debates and conversations. How cool is that?
We had all gone our seperate ways for lunch, and I was on my way back. I have been told on multiple times that I am allowed very unlimited access to the DDC, it has been a blessing, but at the same right I would prefer to be treated not as staff their, but as if I was a client. In that, I decided to wait outside and just hang out until the doors were unlocked and everyone could come in for dinner. As I stood outside I started hearing a fairly heated debate. As I neared I could hear 3 people distinctly debating hope, sin, 'we reap what we sow', and Lucifer 'the most beautiful angel', I quietly leaned against one of the large concrete columns by the door and just enjoyed the debate. There were 2 men and a woman all talking about how 'God's blessings will flow out on God's time', and how 'we reap what we sow'. As they were debating that, the crowd grew and grew. The doors of the DDC are locked for cleaning until dinner time, but the folks know that the closer you are to the head of the line, the better your chances are of eating a hearty meal. Now on a normal day you can hear the anger, frustration, fear, apathy, and hardship among the crowd. Not today. The crowd seemed transfixed by the whole discussion, they would interrupt from time to time to ask someone to clarify what they were discussing, but the crowd almost seemed intent on hearing what these folks had to say. There were a couple of points while discussing sin, the devil, and how demons could come and fill an empty temple that a few of the folks got very disturbed and walked off, one shouting profanity and blasphemy as he walked away. But even with that, it was a much quieter, more serene dinner crowd at the doors.
After dinner, I was asked if we could have bible study, I quickly agreed. the best part of that, when we started to settle in and get ready for it, quite of a few of the folks that I have been meeting and speaking with down there found reasons to stop by and ask what we were doing, and then upon finding out quickly asked if they could join us. It was amazing. Also at that time , one of my guitar players stopped by and 'just wanted to say hey', well during that, 'hey', he slipped out, 'i think i might pick up a bible and read it sometime, i might go get one of them that they keep at the motels or somethin..' Yesterday, I had been given a bible by a brother of mine, he had told me. 'this is a recovery bible that I was given when I first went sober, I got a new bible, and I wanted to give this one to you just in case someone needed it.' The reality, the man who 'mentioned' that he was going to steal a bible from a motel so he could read it, is an addict. I just found myself in awe of how God just does His thing. Yesterday I was given a recovery bible, today I had it in my possesion to hand to an addict on a quest for God.
Two Wheeler Greg found scripture from Matthew that we read and discussed in our bibke study. He has many many study pamphlets that he has kept, 'just in case'. Of course the one he chose fit like a glove. As that ended I was asked to play a few tunes. So Tawa got out his drum, and I grabbed the guitar, and we played songs from John Denver to Bob Marley, and he even started singing along with a worship song that I have been sneaking into the Jam Session every chance I get. As we were praying I watched 3 men, only one of who knew the fourth man personally, lay out his mat and his things and get him ready for bed. He is terminally ill, he is not very mobile at all and uses a walker. The 3 men laid out his mat, got his blankets and sheets ready, and ever so gently lowered this man down to his bed. I could see it from my vantage point where I was playing. Not one man made a crass comment or anything, they just simply and humbly came together to make sure this man would be comfortable for the night, and that he would not suffer any more than he already was. Once he was situated they all went their seperate ways, not asking for anyone's praise or self seeking in any way. Just 3 men helping their brother in a time of need and using love and compassion to make his world better if only for a few minutes.
I guess all I can really say, in the past few weeks I have been blessed to see a change begin at the DDC, I have seen miracles and wonders. I have seen folks start to hope in a place labeled 'where dreams go to die', and what is hope? a dream. I discussed a thought with one of the newer folks there earlier today. It was said, 'I feel like this is the end of my life, this is where my life has led to, and now, there is nothing left, only me, and I just don't want to be here anymore.' To which I was given to say, 'Have you ever considered that instead of it being the end of your life, it's just the end of a really bad chapter in it, and now you get to start with a completely new chapter, maybe even written by a new author?'. They replied, 'never thought of it that way.' They then smiled, and during the bible study said some wonderful and profound things about life and chapters. I love each and every one of you and God does too. LLLAKYFOTPA
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