Don’t worry, I’m thinking of you.

I’m trying to go to sleep, but I can’t. All I can think about is the fact that Nancy and her husband (from my previous post) are somewhere on the streets of Toronto in pain from being beaten up and most likely no one is going to help them. I think I’ve gotten over the initial experience of seeing how apathetic the police and emergency personnel were towards two broken individuals who happen to find themselves in unfortunate circumstances. I still hope for a day when all people can sit together and share a common table regardless of the things that divide us – such as economic status. I do believe that day will come through the fulfillment of Christ’s promise to the world, whatever that will look like. I do believe that all people can and will be reconciled to each other through the redemptive work of the cross. And, I do believe that God loves each one person of creation and that God has a special interest in the marginalized and downcast of society.

However, I now realize that it’s not enough to just hope. We – as people of faith – must act. The gospel has radical social implications, not just spiritual truths. We (you and I) must work towards the fulfillment of Christ’s promise. We cannot sit idly by and let the world pass us by. I think Jesus would be pissed off with us if we did. We can’t be Pharisees following the rule of religion but never applying the ethic of love. I do feel that God has a specific calling and plan for my life, but whatever I end up doing I must do for the betterment of humanity. I must see Christ in all that I do in life. I must live and work as if I were living and working to serve Christ in every person I meet because I am meeting Christ in every person I encounter.

I feel like I was a part of Nancy’s story that night for a specific reason. I think that God was breathing and moving that night. I’ve struggled with deciphering my vocational call for a long time. I’ve considered many careers, and I started to feel that God was calling me to professional ministry during my freshman year of university. I don’t think that God’s calling for my life is changing, but I do think I’m starting to see things I little more clearly. The fog is beginning to lift. Professional ministry may not be what I’m supposed to do. I get too angry with situations like Nancy’s. I want to stand up for Nancy and give a voice to the voiceless. I want to fight for those with no fight left. As I dance with God, I slowly realize how intricate the moves are. Even the smallest steps are important and make all the difference. Nancy was one person on one street in one city on one night. But, her story from that night will forever shape my life.

Nancy will most likely never read this post. But, I want her to know that I’m thinking about her. I’m concerned for her. I want her to be safe, healthy, and comfortable. I don’t want to think about her sleeping on the pavement while her swollen face throbs with pain and her heart may cry out in anguish. But, I am thinking about her on the streets tonight. And, I’ll continue to think about her on the streets. Why? Because I saw something I never want to see again. I saw Christ beaten, broken, and ignored by countless people around him. I saw God’s humanity and willingness to come to the lowest place in order to show us what is wrong with us. It also deeply moved me to almost tears because most likely Nancy is someone’s mother, sister, cousin, or friend. Somewhere out there in the big world we inhabit, Nancy has family. But, they may never know how she is being treated on the streets of Toronto. I couldn’t and wouldn’t want to imagine anyone from my family in that situation. Through Nancy, I realize how truly blessed my family and myself are.

Don’t worry, Nancy. I’m thinking of you.