This is an excerpt from the young adult novel Consequence: Importance of the Spirit, Lilia Faith Christian's Family Legacy:
After rehearsal the next day, the four young people donned their old clothes and headed for Fisherman's Wharf.
"Men, I'll watch Lilia, and you watch our backs okay? Face away from us at the ongoing circumstances, and keep a sharp eye," Jim ordered seriously. He didn't want any nasty surprises.
"Yes boss," said Kimo in a no-nonsense manner.
"Ay, ay, chief," Bill replied soberly and saluted.
They carried four backpacks each. They looked like homeless people themselves carrying around all their loot. They met a homeless woman named Linda, who sat by the side of the sidewalk down by San Francisco Bay. Lilia sat down on the ground next to her, and Jim sat down next to Lilia. "Hi, my name is Lilia, what's yours?" Lilia asked as she looked into Linda's eyes, but the woman avoided her gaze.
"I'm Linda," she said and offered nothing more.
"How are you today Linda?" Lilia asked sincerely with heartfelt interest.
"I'm sad Lilia. The only friend I have to walk around with is lying drunk on the ground over there. He doesn't help take care of me when he's drunk," she complained.
"What kind of care do you need, Linda?" Lilia inquired in case there was something she could do.
"I fell down on the sidewalk and hurt my back and scraped up my knees," said Linda mournfully and showed Lilia her bleeding knees. Lilia reached inside of a backpack, and pulled out an antibacterial wipe. She cleaned the wound, put antibiotic ointment on it, and bandaged it for Linda.
"Does that feel better?" Lilia asked as she gently rubbed Linda's back with concern.
"Yes, thank you," Linda said and began to weep.
"Why are you crying Linda?" Lilia questioned her to uncover the underlying cause of her upset.
"Because, most people would never sit down and just start talking to me. They avoid me, as if I have a communicable disease. You've been very kind," blubbered Linda. "I could use a friend like you."
"Linda, do you go to church?" Lilia asked gently. She knew that her question delved into a sensitive subject.
"No, I used to go to church, but I haven't been to church in years, since I became homeless and started living in the street," Linda said painfully. Lilia handed Linda a tissue to wipe her nose and eyes, and gently rubbed her arm.
"Linda, Here is a route map for all the churches in the area, which take in homeless people overnight, and feed them. You see," she said as she pointed at the map, "there is a church only six blocks from here, which does Monday nights and today is Monday. Here is another church a few blocks from the Monday church, which does Tuesdays. You wouldn't have to sleep in the street if you could get yourself on this route, and you'd have something to eat too. Do you believe in God, Linda?" Lilia looked at Linda in a non-judgmental and empathetic manner.
Linda started to sob again, "I used to believe in God, but I haven't given him much thought lately."
Lilia replied with conviction. She said, "God loves you, Linda, and he sent me here today to help you. Everything in this backpack is yours. It contains everything from bandages to antibacterial wipes to food and water. We also put a nice leather-bound Bible in here for you so that you can be comforted Linda," Lilia said sympathetically."May we pray with you Linda?"
"Would you? That would be so nice," answered Linda with hopefulness.
Jim and Lilia each took one of Linda's hands and linked their own. Lilia prayed, "Father in Heaven, your child is grieving for you. She hasn't thought about you for some time, but she's ready to do more thinking about you. Dear Father, we ask you to fill her with your Holy Spirit, and by your power, produce in Linda the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We thank you, Father."
Linda cried out, "I feel so much better! A load of guilt just lifted off my shoulders."
You don't have to walk alone, Linda. God walks with you. He'll be your constant companion if you let Him. Study His Word in the Bible. It will bring you great joy," Lilia said with conviction. Linda sobbed and hugged Lilia.
The two homeless men, who sat near Jim, Lilia, and Linda, listened to the whole conversation and changed forever in that instant.
(I'm happy to report that truth is stranger than fiction because this event actually happened to Don and I in northern California, and the woman's name was Linda.)
After rehearsal the next day, the four young people donned their old clothes and headed for Fisherman's Wharf.
"Men, I'll watch Lilia, and you watch our backs okay? Face away from us at the ongoing circumstances, and keep a sharp eye," Jim ordered seriously. He didn't want any nasty surprises.
"Yes boss," said Kimo in a no-nonsense manner.
"Ay, ay, chief," Bill replied soberly and saluted.
They carried four backpacks each. They looked like homeless people themselves carrying around all their loot. They met a homeless woman named Linda, who sat by the side of the sidewalk down by San Francisco Bay. Lilia sat down on the ground next to her, and Jim sat down next to Lilia. "Hi, my name is Lilia, what's yours?" Lilia asked as she looked into Linda's eyes, but the woman avoided her gaze.
"I'm Linda," she said and offered nothing more.
"How are you today Linda?" Lilia asked sincerely with heartfelt interest.
"I'm sad Lilia. The only friend I have to walk around with is lying drunk on the ground over there. He doesn't help take care of me when he's drunk," she complained.
"What kind of care do you need, Linda?" Lilia inquired in case there was something she could do.
"I fell down on the sidewalk and hurt my back and scraped up my knees," said Linda mournfully and showed Lilia her bleeding knees. Lilia reached inside of a backpack, and pulled out an antibacterial wipe. She cleaned the wound, put antibiotic ointment on it, and bandaged it for Linda.
"Does that feel better?" Lilia asked as she gently rubbed Linda's back with concern.
"Yes, thank you," Linda said and began to weep.
"Why are you crying Linda?" Lilia questioned her to uncover the underlying cause of her upset.
"Because, most people would never sit down and just start talking to me. They avoid me, as if I have a communicable disease. You've been very kind," blubbered Linda. "I could use a friend like you."
"Linda, do you go to church?" Lilia asked gently. She knew that her question delved into a sensitive subject.
"No, I used to go to church, but I haven't been to church in years, since I became homeless and started living in the street," Linda said painfully. Lilia handed Linda a tissue to wipe her nose and eyes, and gently rubbed her arm.
"Linda, Here is a route map for all the churches in the area, which take in homeless people overnight, and feed them. You see," she said as she pointed at the map, "there is a church only six blocks from here, which does Monday nights and today is Monday. Here is another church a few blocks from the Monday church, which does Tuesdays. You wouldn't have to sleep in the street if you could get yourself on this route, and you'd have something to eat too. Do you believe in God, Linda?" Lilia looked at Linda in a non-judgmental and empathetic manner.
Linda started to sob again, "I used to believe in God, but I haven't given him much thought lately."
Lilia replied with conviction. She said, "God loves you, Linda, and he sent me here today to help you. Everything in this backpack is yours. It contains everything from bandages to antibacterial wipes to food and water. We also put a nice leather-bound Bible in here for you so that you can be comforted Linda," Lilia said sympathetically."May we pray with you Linda?"
"Would you? That would be so nice," answered Linda with hopefulness.
Jim and Lilia each took one of Linda's hands and linked their own. Lilia prayed, "Father in Heaven, your child is grieving for you. She hasn't thought about you for some time, but she's ready to do more thinking about you. Dear Father, we ask you to fill her with your Holy Spirit, and by your power, produce in Linda the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We thank you, Father."
Linda cried out, "I feel so much better! A load of guilt just lifted off my shoulders."
You don't have to walk alone, Linda. God walks with you. He'll be your constant companion if you let Him. Study His Word in the Bible. It will bring you great joy," Lilia said with conviction. Linda sobbed and hugged Lilia.
The two homeless men, who sat near Jim, Lilia, and Linda, listened to the whole conversation and changed forever in that instant.
(I'm happy to report that truth is stranger than fiction because this event actually happened to Don and I in northern California, and the woman's name was Linda.)
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