Parable of the Kingdom
I believe a parable is a simple story that relays a complex truth. Our lives should continually be a parable of the inbreaking of God’s kingdom into our world. In my reflections I journeyed back an experience I had several years back. In the best way I know how, a story, I’d like to explore this a little further:
“About five years ago, I had the distinct privilege and honor to travel to New Orleans for a winter mission trip opportunity with the university I was attending. First off, the temperature difference was enough to wake up the iced over exterior that Ashland, OH had brought to my life. Temperatures averaged in the 70’s and I was walking on cloud nine.
Many of the nights, we ventured out into the French Quarter for evangelistic efforts. As we walked the streets of the Quarter, the people I met were amazing. Their stories were full of heartache, pain, hope, despair, anguish…emotionally we met people from across the entire gamut. They were real, raw, and relational and I loved every minute of it.
Many ‘Christian’ groups have wandered into the Quarter espousing ‘turn or burn’ messages. Imagine their surprise when we just simply wanted to get to know them. No projects…just people! No tracts…just testimonies!
On the last night, we got something new sprung on us. Our leader announced that we would be returning to the Quarter to do street dramas at Jackson Square. Now is a good time to fill you in on Jackson Square. A street block in the middle of the Quarter, the Jackson Square is home to all the tarot card handlers, palm readers, and astrologists. It is notoriously not a safe or warm environment for Christian witness.
But, we found ourselves doing street dramas there. People walked by proclaiming profanities at us and we continued on. Our message was simple…Jesus loves and desires relationship. This was tested as we wandered to the southern side of the Square.
As we performed our dramas, we were met by a belligerent homeless lady. She had come from a large group of homeless people gathered on the sidewalk in front of some shops. This woman was drunk and you could tell that a mile away. She cussed me up one side and down the other. I was flabbergasted, nervous, and scared. What the heck was happening?
She did not understand why we made so much racket and feared that the police, unfriendly to the homeless, would hear of the noise and ask the homeless group to leave. What was a well intentioned outreach was quickly becoming a screaming nuisance. Wide eyed, I listened to this woman’s ranting and witnessed the rest of the group gather into small groups for prayer.
My friend, Lindsay, and I took the brunt of this woman’s complaints. To our shock, she began to sober up to the point where I could not even smell the alcohol anymore. Before our very eyes, this woman was starting to speak clearer and calmer.
Mary, as we found out her name, was a woman who had bad luck all her life. Broken marriages, debt, and unemployment had taken their toll. Getting kicked out on the street exposed her to a harder life and one that could change at a moments notice. She spoke in great detail of her life’s struggles and spoke deeply and passionately about how her community of like-minded people had become family. She cared deeply and powerfully for the homeless group within which she had found home.
I began to feel my heart well up with a groaning, a desire to do something for her. Immediately, I felt in my pocket and found a crumbled up $20 bill. I immediately blurted out, ‘Mary, can I but you something to eat?’ I had no idea where any food places were located. I hardly knew this lady. What was I doing?
Her eyes got the size of saucers and she darted off to the local A&P store a short block away. I watched as she peered through the store window to see which manager was working. Apparently, she and her friends had run ins with some of the managers before. The manager on duty must not have been bad because Mary darted into the store.
At this point, I wish I could take the pious route and have you believe that I was completely content in my obedience to the Lord. Alas, I would be lying. What was she doing? Where was she going? What if she bought more than I could afford? How would I break the news to her? I worried…I panicked!
She returned to the front with a loaf of bread and a pack of lunch meat. The items were rang up and came to about $5. We walked back to her group and she sat down in their company. Immediately, she opened the loaf of bread and lunch meat and began to make sandwiches. Then, as I stood back and watched, she passed out sandwiches. Every person in her group received a sandwich. She looked at me, and I will never forget her words, ‘When Momma [as they called her] eats, everyone eats.’
Five dollars out of my pocket was used by God to feed an entire group of people who would otherwise not have a meal. Five dollars was multiplied by a homeless woman, down on her luck. Five dollars out of my pocket blessed me in ways completely un-financial. I still remember looking and saying, ‘This is what the kingdom is all about!’”
May you embrace your life as a parable and seek to live the Kingdom with an outflow of love, acceptance and mercy like Mary did on the streets of New Orleans.
“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” ~Jeremiah 6:16, NIV
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