I was at a nursing home yesterday with a handful of my folks from my parish. We had been asked to hold the Eucharist service that month and since our call is bring Jesus to the ends of the earth it fit into our mission statement.I had prayed that the Lord would manifest Himself to the residents in a powerful way...and He as truly present during the service, but He revealed Himself to me as we were setting up and getting ready for the service...
I was setting the Alter and looked up, and there before me was a multitude of wheelchairs and walkers, real blind people and folks who couldn't hear a lick without a hearing aid. Most had Alzheimer's and all were not young (except for one youth volunteer)...
And the Lord took me to the words from the prophet Jeremiah 31:8 "Behold, I will bring them out from the north country and gather them form the farthest parts of the earth, among them will be the blind and the lame..."
We often joke " you'd be surprised at who you will see in heaven".... we have no need. The Word is clear...the broken who have heard and seen will be called...and they will come by whatever means necessary... squeaky, shuffling, and some even running (couldn't take a picture..but it's in my mind forever)
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We were at Ellen's Stardust Diner yesterday and there was an elderly, very nattily dressed African American man, apparently blind and in a wheel chair, just sitting there listening to the music. He was alone and had apparently finished his lunch awhile ago. I so enjoyed watching him enjoy the music. It was too loud to converse across the aisle, but I wanted to tell him I was enjoying watching him enjoy the music as much as I enjoyed watching the performers. Unfortunately he motored out of there before I could squeeze over to his spot. Not quite as deep, but wonderful to see a guy who obviously had his difficulties enjoying life and music so much. Lynn
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