A DAY WITH A MAN WITH NOTHING

I spent today with a man who has nothing.

Eric (not his real name) called me at 7 A.M. Saturday morning. 

“Where’d you sleep last night, Eric?”

“Outside the Church of Latter Day Saints.”

“You got some clothes to change into?”

“Just what I’m wearing.”

“When’d you eat last?”

“Been a couple of days.”

“Where are you calling me from?”

“A pay phone.”

“Where in crap did you find an actual, working pay phone?”

Now before you recite the clichés about “those people” let me point out a couple or three things.  Eric’s doesn’t get food stamps, or SSI/disability. He’s not on section 8, or Medicare, or Medicaid.   He doesn’t panhandle. He didn’t bum off family.  He’d gotten a full time job; and because he didn’t have a car, he walked several miles to and from work.  After work and on weekends he picked up all the odd jobs he could find in the neighborhood.  He ate what he could buy.  He lived where he could afford. He joined a church.  He did everything we say he is supposed to do as a good American capitalist.

And it worked.  Last month Eric wasn’t really homeless.  “Not really homeless.” That’s what we call it because technically he had a place to live.  Sure the only place he could afford had no electricity, no water, at least 8 transient occupants any given day, and both the ownership and legality of occupancy was vague, but the place had 4 walls and a roof and he ought to be thankful for that.  Eric was thankful.

But then somebody (probably one of his housemates) snuck up behind him as he was walking home on payday and cut his throat.  They literally sliced his neck from ear to ear.  The doctors don’t know how the razor missed the big arteries and veins. 

I went to see him a couple of days after the attack.  He strained the staples in his neck trying to tell me what happened but he caught the blood in a towel that he pressed against his open throat.

He couldn’t work.  He lost his job.  His i.d. and all of his clothes went missing from the house. For some reason he started drinking again.

This is where you can recite the clichés about how those people make too many excuses.

A few days after getting out of the hospital, Eric was “really” homeless.  Since then he’s bounced from place to place, emergency room to shelter, abandoned house to Mormon church  doorway.  He called me Saturday because, “I can’t do it on my own.  I need help.”

I spent that morning on the phone.  I spent today today driving around getting Eric a shower and a belt for the clothes I ironed and gave him out of my closet.  We followed up on possible programs and lots of referrals to somewhere else because he doesn’t have Medicare or Medicaid or private insurance or money.

This is where you recite the clichés about the socialist evils of universal healthcare.

The workday came and went without me doing anything I’d planned when I left the office Friday.   But I bought my friend Eric lunch.  (He actually ordered steak, but I did say “Whatever you want.”)  Tonight, he has a safe, air-conditioned place to sleep, a new network of wonderful people in the Montgomery non-profit community, and a certified plan to get sober and back to pursuing the American dream.

His situation isn’t typical, but it is normal.  There are men like him all over our community and yours.   They have screwed up their lives with alcohol, drugs, dropping out, and getting arrested; but they still believe in the American dream.  They believe that if they sacrifice and work hard and do what we tell them to do then they can pull themselves up by their bootstraps and achieve all of their goals.  Because this is America, goshdarnit!

They believe that.  They really do.

You know the stories of extraordinary men and women went from nothing all by themselves, the extraordinary people who made a decision to improve themselves and never looked back. Those stories are extraordinary, i.e., they're not normal.  NORMALLY when a man, like Eric, has nothing in this sinful world and he tries to do better on his own, then somebody comes along and takes what little he does  Normally, he can’t do it on his own.  He needs help.

The only way any of the Erics has a chance at becoming what we tell them they’re supposed to become is if the you’s and me’s are willing to spend some time and money on men and women who have nothing. 

It’s exhausting, and annoying, and not cheap. (Did I mention the steak?)  You’ve got other things to do, and you’ve got a head full of clichés to excuse you.

I guess this is where I should make some profound point. 

Eric is the profound point. 

The man who has nothing is A MAN.   A man Jesus thought was worth dying for.

What’s he worth to you?

Lord, when did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ (Matthew 25: 38-40)

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

#Awordtothewise

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

You can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

SO?

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy  (Psalm 107:2)

Take the first part of that verse and read it with a different inflection.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say, ”So?”

Please, allow me to share an example.

In John chapter 2, Jesus performed the first public miracle of His ministry by turning water into wine at a wedding. (Don’t you just love alliteration.)  This miracle was instigated by Jesus’ mother, who was concerned that the happy couple would be embarrassed that the open bar had run dry.

When Mary broached the topic to Jesus (whom I maintain did not even want to accompany His mom to this wedding), the Lord replied, “Woman, what does that have to do with Me?”

Mother Mary said, “They’re out of wine.”

And Jesus replied, “So?”

There are times when the most lovingly Christian reply is sarcasm.

Yes. Yes, that’s what I said.

I’m not talking about the kind of sarcasm that crosses or straddles the line into verbal bullying.  I’m talking about lovingly and succinctly responding in a matter that communicates that you really don’t give a crap what they think because God has made it clear what you’re supposed to do.

Examine Jesus’ response in John 2 and you’ll notice that it involved:

-          No personal attacks;

-          No passive aggression to destroy the mood of the party;

-          No long justification for his attitude;

-          No direct or indirect efforts to grab attention;

Also, note that Jesus fixed the wedding couple’s wine problem.  He did so quickly and rather anonymously.  We know that Jesus didn’t draw a bunch of attention to Himself because John 2: 9, 10 says that the wedding coordinator thought the bride and groom had pulled the 2^nd batch of wine out of their secret stash.

Saying, “So” doesn’t mean that you don’t care. 

Saying, “So,” doesn’t mean that you won’t help.

Saying, “So,” means that you won’t argue.

Jesus-style sarcasm requires that when it’s all said and done, you’ve DONE a whole lot more than you’ve SAID.

Saying, “So,” doesn’t mean shutting THEM up.

It’s means shutting YOURSELF up.

In fact, a more literal translation of that opening clause in Psalm 107:2 would read: Let the redeemed of the Lord say.

That’s it.  End of sentence.  Literally say------- NOTHING.

Maybe Jesus discerned that the wedding party was too drunk to appreciate a theological exegesis of the transformation of water into new wine.  Maybe Jesus knew He’d just be casting verbal pearls before drunken swine (so to speak).

There were many times when Jesus meticulously explained His identity as the Messiah, the Son of God.  But not THIS time.

This time Jesus just said, “So,” and worked the miracle.  And as far as we can tell from the text, after working the miracle, He said------ NOTHING.

The redeemed of the Lord are they whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.

If WE understand who we are then we won’t waste so much time trying to prove our spiritual credentials to everybody.

Somebody needs to hear your testimony, but everybody doesn't.

Everybody doesn’t need to hear "your story" EVERY doggone time you perform a good work.

Sometimes they just need sarcasm and service.

Say, “So,” and work your miracle, and then just shut up.

Let your actions speak louder than your words.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To listen to sermons and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

You can help support this ministry by clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to

Hall Memorial CME Church

541 Seibles Road

Montgomery, AL 36116

A WORD TO THE WISE. PROVERBS 31: 27. "Sacrificing Nothing"

Proverbs 31: 27     She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31: 27.  Do you remember the children’s story, “The Little Red Hen”?

There was this little red hen who came upon some grains of wheat.  She asked all of the farm animals to help her plant the wheat.  Each one said, “No.  Not I.” So she planted the wheat all by herself.

The little red hen asked for help weeding the green stalks when they came up.  She asked for help plucking the wheat, threshing the wheat.  She asked for help taking the wheat the mill.  She asked for help baking the ground wheat flour.  Each time the other farm creatures replied, “No.  Not I.”  So, she did all of the work herself.

Finally, the little red hen emerged from her kitchen with a warm, freshly baked loaf of bread.  (The picture books always showed a loaf that was bigger than the hen carrying it.)   She asked if there was anyone to help her eat the bread, and every animal on the farm stood up and shouted, “I will.” 

“No, you won’t,” replied the little red hen.  “I will eat it myself, just me and my little chicks.”  And that is exactly what they did.

The animals on the farm wanted to eat without working.  They wanted the enjoy the bread of idleness.

Sometimes people fail because they won’t sacrifice some thing:  some destructive relationship, some self-destructive habit, some token of security that keeps them from advancing . 

But other times---- most of the time--- people fail to succeed because they won’t sacrifice their nothings.  They won’t give up the time they spend doing nothing.  They won’t give up the time they spend reading nothing.  They won’t give up the time they spend learning nothing.  They won’t give up the time they spend not practicing, not calling, not emailing, not pursuing opportunities, not exercising their gifts.

It’s possible to miss your chance because you were doing the wrong thing, but it’s more common to miss your chance because you were doing NO THING.

And there are some people, including some women, who actually expect to have everything they’ve dreamed of while holding on to their nothings.  They expect to eat the bread of idleness.

Bro, you don’t need a woman like that.   You need a woman who will plant, and weed, and pluck, and grind away while all of her friends are waiting for Prince Baller to ride through and drop a loaf of bread on their nightstands.

The little red hen you’re looking for may or may not work outside the home.  But she does work.  She sacrifices idle time to make sure that the children are taken care of.  She sacrifices do-nothing time to learn how to take better care of the house.  She gives up the many nothings she could do, and she does everything possible to make her family more and more successful.  

But them other chicks……..?  

If you run across one of those women who wants to do nothing outside the home, and do nothing from home, and do nothing in the home, but she expects you to give her everything she wants------ then you answer, “No.  Not I.”

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

You can read more on Pastor Graves's personal blog at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com  .

If this message helps or touches you, please help support this ministry. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116

PROVERBS 31: 27. "Sacrificing Nothing"

Proverbs 31: 27     She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31: 27.  Do you remember the children’s story, “The Little Red Hen”?

There was this little red hen who came upon some grains of wheat.  She asked all of the farm animals to help her plant the wheat.  Each one said, “No.  Not I.” So she planted the wheat all by herself.

The little red hen asked for help weeding the green stalks when they came up.  She asked for help plucking the wheat, threshing the wheat.  She asked for help taking the wheat the mill.  She asked for help baking the ground wheat flour.  Each time the other farm creatures replied, “No.  Not I.”  So, she did all of the work herself.

Finally, the little red hen emerged from her kitchen with a warm, freshly baked loaf of bread.  (The picture books always showed a loaf that was bigger than the hen carrying it.)   She asked if there was anyone to help her eat the bread, and every animal on the farm stood up and shouted, “I will.” 

“No, you won’t,” replied the little red hen.  “I will eat it myself, just me and my little chicks.”  And that is exactly what they did.

The animals on the farm wanted to eat without working.  They wanted the enjoy the bread of idleness.

Sometimes people fail because they won’t sacrifice some thing:  some destructive relationship, some self-destructive habit, some token of security that keeps them from advancing . 

But other times---- most of the time--- people fail to succeed because they won’t sacrifice their nothings.  They won’t give up the time they spend doing nothing.  They won’t give up the time they spend reading nothing.  They won’t give up the time they spend learning nothing.  They won’t give up the time they spend not practicing, not calling, not emailing, not pursuing opportunities, not exercising their gifts.

It’s possible to miss your chance because you were doing the wrong thing, but it’s more common to miss your chance because you were doing NO THING.

And there are some people, including some women, who actually expect to have everything they’ve dreamed of while holding on to their nothings.  They expect to eat the bread of idleness.

Bro, you don’t need a woman like that.   You need a woman who will plant, and weed, and pluck, and grind away while all of her friends are waiting for Prince Baller to ride through and drop a loaf of bread on their nightstands.

The little red hen you’re looking for may or may not work outside the home.  But she does work.  She sacrifices idle time to make sure that the children are taken care of.  She sacrifices do-nothing time to learn how to take better care of the house.  She gives up the many nothings she could do, and she does everything possible to make her family more and more successful.  

But them other chicks……..?  

If you run across one of those women who wants to do nothing outside the home, and do nothing from home, and do nothing in the home, but she expects you to give her everything she wants------ then you answer, “No.  Not I.”

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

You can read more on Pastor Graves's personal blog at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com  .

If this message helps or touches you, please help support this ministry. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116