Sacramental Living

I know I’ve promised some upcoming posts focusing on various “Why’s” … but I’m still stuck on this one.  Additionally, inspiration has been fleeting and anger and bitterness have been prevalent.  I’d rather not write under those conditions.  So in the meantime, I’ll continue on this topic.

Tonight has been a doozy of a night at the Shelter.  I’ve been dealing with various issues from over the weekend.  We’re six men over what our capacity really is.  I had to excuse a few guys for showing up drunk.  Dealt with a few resident’s personal issues.

But as the evening wore on, I had some wonderful experiences.

I had a conversation with a resident I’ll call “Brandon.”  Brandon sat in my office and talked to me about how he sensed I was beleaguered.   He asked if I was okay.  We talked about the stresses and pressures of this job.  We talked about some of the things he witnessed me handle tonight.  As I was talking, he said he noticed a gleam in my eye, and he thought I seemed lighter of spirit.

He then said, “You really love this work, don’t you?”

Brandon’s right.  I do.  Even when the stress is great, the joy is greater.

It wasn’t like that in “church work.”  The stress just led to more stress, more discontent from myself and others, more frustration.  The joy was sucked right out of me.  Go figure.

Also tonight, our AA meeting was interesting.  A new resident, I’ll call him “Mitch,” sat in on the meeting.  He said that he wasn’t an alcoholic nor addict, but was looking for answers.

Come to find out, Mitch’s wife died from over-drinking a few months ago.  He’s an unemployed widower looking to make a new start in Brunswick.  He carries a lot of guilt, a lot of hurt, and he doesn’t know what to do.

Wow!

Long story, short … It was incredible to see some of the guys who are admitted addicts / alcoholics so affected by Mitch’s story and life circumstance.  They realized the hurt that their addictions can cause.

I was able to speak with Mitch one-on-one a bit later.  The conversation was about brokenness and how God constantly works to create beauty out of all kinds of brokenness.

Now, I could preach all kinds of great sermons on these theological points (and I have).  But in a parish, the people would absorb it on Sunday then go back out and be the same people they were beforehand.

But here at the Shelter, I’m seeing the sermons lived out, experienced, incarnated.

No wonder there is joy in this!

As a dear friend and fellow sojourner commented to me today, this is “prioritizing the poor over the party.”  It may be heresy, as my friend suggested.  So be it.  I’ll be a heretic and obedient in the way of Christ any day, over against being a well-respected clergyman who rarely sees Jesus at the party.

——

Brian Niece
www.brianniece.com
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