Timotheose - A son in the Faith

A few thoughts, free-form and real

I'm walking back from mass, it's morning and I'm tired, a bit hungry and feeling worn out. My mind is not working too well, its sluggish and I'm just kind of coasting, not thinking, just walking. I would really like a coffee or a tea and maybe a place to sit down as I haven't had anything other than 2 cups of tea since yesterday about this time. Gio and I got separated and I'm alone now and my heart is heavy. I begin to long for some human contact and just a place to get out from the streets, the chaos and turmoil. I think of a few places I can go so I begin to walk. I don't plan anything, it's not like I have pressing business anywhere so I just walk. One place after the next is closed or not open yet. And so I walk. I think of a place that I know where there are fellow Christians and so I head there, they even have coffee I'll bet. I'm getting a little excited as I climb the many stairs and when I get to the top, I'm a little out of breath and when asked "Can we help you?" I can only mumble "I was here the other day .. there was coffee." The young lady replies "Oh, that ... that's at night time, come back then." UGH !!! Rejected. My heart breaks and as stupid as it sounds I almost wanted to cry. Here is an oasis, a resting spot, my 'people' and I am denied, unwanted .. rejected.

A little dramatic perhaps but I know that the Lord was and is speaking to me in it. The place where I was seeking rest is actually a school during the day and it was totally understandable that they did not give me what I needed or wanted. In fact as I sat on the stairs and pulled out my journal and wrote a bit the teacher, who I had met came up and pretty soon the class was under full sway.

What I take from the experience was a heightened awareness of the consequences of both real and imaginary rejection and how easily it is to 'miss' those moments of need that I am sure pass us by every day no matter where we are and where we live.

Every time that a person is rejected, real or perceived there is a whole series of other messages that are communicated; unworthiness, unlovable, less-than, outsider, unclean. I am becoming convinced that the poor, addicted and homeless are becoming or are our cultures 'lepers' and 'tax collectors'.


When does this rejection begin?
When does this it end?


"To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." Jude 1:24-26


Blessings