Hilda

     I needed silence today.  I had opened myself to many groups, conversations and senarios since Friday and it is Monday, and I longed to have a half hour of sweet silence, no one around, to think, to just let my brain be unconnected to my heart for awhile.  Going to our empty church building on Maryland, I found just that.  I lit my "Christ-candle", meditated on the Psalm I've put up on my office wall behind it and chilled.
     After a couple of hours, I was packing up my things to leave.  Outside on the steps a "bag lady" was coming up to our door.  2 plastic bags and a steel pull cart with things packed in it.  She opened the door (darn, I thought it was locked!) and looked in and around till she saw me.  Can't kick her out now, I thought....what a bad thought!  Out loud I said, "Can I help you?".  That began an hour and a half dialogue.
    Her name is Hilda.  She has long, white hair, clear eyes and a cute smile.  She told me she was a tenant of Manitoba Housing for 15 years until she was evicted for being behind on her rent.  Apparently, she had paid rent diligently but on the wrong day, for a long time without being notified that it was actually working against her....I wasn't sure what that all meant, but she has lost her apartment, furniture, and perhaps her job and has gone to Siloam mission to stay nights.  Her mind works like a lawyers' detailed and specific (on many other inner city issues that we covered), and wants to address this and other injustices, but needs stable housing and to continue her job.  I told her to apply to our management company and we'll look into her circumstances and need.  For some reason, I believed her (I've heard other stories of bad management) and hope she gets in our buildings.  Others may write her off, or question her story....I can't yet, until proven guilty.
     I was talking about this with a friend later today, and he laughed...."something doesn't add up here", he said, "I'm not saying she's not telling the truth but there are always two sides to the story.  People down here usually have 2 or 3 lives, and show the one they want, to get what they want."  I gave him that, we've seen it before, but that first meeting, it's almost like you want to give them a chance, to believe them and help them up, help them out. If she applies, she'll meet 2 other New Lifers and we'll chat and decide together to accept her into our buildings, of course there is a process.  I told my friend that.  "Yah, you're right."  And then I reminded him of a guy he believed in, named him a friend and helped out with rides, groceries, meeting our church people and community.  Wayne had an impediment when my friend met him, he couldn't speak well and just barely got across what he needed (food).  So they went to Safeway, they went for burgers and was given a ride home using our van.  Wayne showed up for church that Sunday, saying he was getting an operation on his tongue to be able to free it up to speak better (alot of pointing and gesturing and sounds).  We prayed for him and waited to hear how it went.  Well, with a smile on his face the next Sunday, he spoke well, we could understand him!  His surgery was Tuesday, he was with a speech therapist till Friday, and wow, a modern day miracle!!  He left that day, and we haven't seen him since.  It clicked for a number of people...really, to have that type of surgery and therapy in a week?  Go figure.
     So do we go the distance, or don't we?  I feel there is a thrill, a crazy curiosity that happens in the journey with people.  It doesn't matter if they say they are Christians or not, disability, welfare, or low income workers, their background....it is an initial, "Oh, yah?  Let's hear your story" over a cup of coffee, or standing in a hallway, or outside on a snowy sidewalk.  That's how it starts, if they stay long enough, they will hear my story, or one of my friend's.  Who knows where it will go, but we're in it for the ride.  Jesus, I think, did that too, never shut people out, or analyzed them to death after with his disciples.  That's giving them a chance, and giving their humanity some dignity.  It's almost like calling them out, will you trust us?  Will you one day reveal yourself and not be afraid of being hurt or abused or taken advantage of?  Some would rather not and play the system, others hear the call and step forward....prayer, courage, trust.  I hope Hilda will be one of those that hear that call.