twelve bones

Here's the best story I've heard in a long time!


George, a 75 year old man at Steve's nursing home, was restless.  He had had enough of facility food.  Craving something from the "outside", he remembered hearing about how Obama has eaten at 12 Bones while he was visiting Asheville.  During therapy he asked Steve about it and found out that Steve had eaten there.  It became his Great Life Desire. 


"Come on man, let's go."  Steve couldn't take him, but a few days later he stopped at 12 Bones and got a take out menu.  He told George to choose what he wanted and Steve would bring it to him on Friday.


George studied the menu.  He learned it.  He read it to everyone who came in his room.  By the end of the week the menu was all wrinkled and creased.  George showed it to his friend Will, who joined in the excitement.


Every single time he saw Steve, he asked "What should I get?  What are you going to get?  What's good?"  When Steve walked in to work on Friday morning, at 7:00 am, George was waiting by the door.  "Today is the day Steve!"


When the lunch menu was posted as baked fish, George found Steve.   "Thank God today is take out day, huh Steve?"


Finally it was lunch.  George and Will agonizingly made their decisions.  They would have the Pulled Pork and the Hogzilla sandwiches with southern sides.  The anticipation was palpable.


Steve got back with a big take-out bag.  He set up a table in the treatment room and the feasting began.  Lip smacking, groans of pleasure, and many expressions of gratitude filled the room.  At one point, while they were shoveling food down, Steve ask them if they were going to be able to eat it all.  


"Hell yeah!" was the response.


Well, they don't teach you that in chaplain school.  But those men headed to nap time ministered to.  Way to go, Honey!


"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'  Matthew 25:40

just because

In our diversity class today we discussed Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario.  This is the true story of a Honduran boy who braves unimaginable hardship and peril to find his mother who has left her starving children to find work in the United States to support them.   Enrique travels on train, bus, river and foot thousands of  miles to reach her.  He is robbed, beat up, starved and yet he never gives up. 

It had been such an eye opening, mind expanding read.  I felt like I had such a better understanding of central America, and the challenges of immigration.  And then our teacher asked us "What images of God did you see in this book."  Wow.  We talked about a God that will go to any lengths to be reunited with us.  A God who never gives up.  A God who made unimaginable sacrifices for His children.  A God who is bigger than borders and boundaries.

And what does that mean for us?  As spiritual beings?  As Chaplains?

This is my favorite moment in the book.  In Veracruz, residents mobilize at the first sign of a train.  They stand along the tracks and throw crackers and water and tortillas to the outstretched hands of the migrants.  Ciro Gonzalez, thirty-five, taught his daughter to do this.  He wants her to grow up right.

"Why do you give them food?" she asked him once.  Her father said, "Because they have traveled far and haven't eaten."

Wow.  Not because God told us to give.   Not because nice people share.  Not because we have more than they do.  Not because we are good.  Just because they are hungry people.

I thought about that in the halls today.  Not because I'm a chaplain.  Not because it is my job.  Not so I can midas you for credit.  Not because I should.  Just because you are a hurting human being.  


Thank you Enrique.

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’  Matthew 25:40 NLT