Love At The Library
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle A
On New Year's Day Jay had an opportunity to reflect on his life's journey. Although he had experienced some bumps along the way he was thankful for the people God had brought into his life. When he hit his lowest point God had just the right people there to help him through.
He had hit bottom just three years before. He bought a gun from a hardware store and planned to end his pathetic life. He placed the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. He went back to the store to return the defective gun, telling the clerk the gun was defective. Then he bought some rope and tried to hang himself from a tree but the branch snapped, hitting him on the head. Nothing ever seemed to go his way.
A couple of days later, still filled with thoughts of suicide, he spent the last of his money for a bus ticket. "I just wanted to get away," he explains. "I wanted to go as far away as my $18 would take me." It would be easier to commit suicide elsewhere, he thought. When he arrived in the city he was in such bad shape that a security guard would not let him leave the bus terminal. The security guard personally took him to a shelter. Jay would spend the next six months living at that shelter. During the day he would roam the streets, eating his meals at several church soup kitchens in town.
As winter approached he sought cover indoors and found the public library. Other homeless people spent the day in the library to escape the cold. Sandra, one of the librarians, spotted Jay and offered to help him. "If it wasn't for the librarian," Jay claims, "God knows where I'd be right now." The librarian was a kind Christian woman who took the time and energy to help him. She suggested several books that would help him. Jay had nothing else to do so he began reading the books Sandra gave him. Included were books on living the Christian life. That winter Jay read more books than he had since he was in school.
Sandra would spend her lunch hour talking with Jay. She told him that Christ could help him. Jay was open and receptive to this woman's love for him. Love had been the missing ingredient for most of his life. Knowing that someone cared about him, that someone loved him, was what helped Jay turn his life around. Jay acquired a new perspective on life, thanks to Sandra, who even helped him find a job. He began attending Sandra's church where he found other caring and supportive people who offered to help him.
Jay worked hard, continuing to read his Bible and attending church. Soon he found an apartment in the same neighborhood as the shelter. Others would complain about the bad neighborhood, but not Jay. He would share his positive outlook with others. He wanted to stay close so that when he wasn't working he could help others. The Mission coordinator speaks highly of Jay: "He's encouraged others to go the way he went."
On New Year's Day he prayed, giving thanks to God for the people who helped him to turn his life around. He knows there are areas he still needs to improve but takes each day as it comes. Of his new life, Jay explains, "I don't have any problems, really. I keep life simple."
He had hit bottom just three years before. He bought a gun from a hardware store and planned to end his pathetic life. He placed the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. He went back to the store to return the defective gun, telling the clerk the gun was defective. Then he bought some rope and tried to hang himself from a tree but the branch snapped, hitting him on the head. Nothing ever seemed to go his way.
A couple of days later, still filled with thoughts of suicide, he spent the last of his money for a bus ticket. "I just wanted to get away," he explains. "I wanted to go as far away as my $18 would take me." It would be easier to commit suicide elsewhere, he thought. When he arrived in the city he was in such bad shape that a security guard would not let him leave the bus terminal. The security guard personally took him to a shelter. Jay would spend the next six months living at that shelter. During the day he would roam the streets, eating his meals at several church soup kitchens in town.
As winter approached he sought cover indoors and found the public library. Other homeless people spent the day in the library to escape the cold. Sandra, one of the librarians, spotted Jay and offered to help him. "If it wasn't for the librarian," Jay claims, "God knows where I'd be right now." The librarian was a kind Christian woman who took the time and energy to help him. She suggested several books that would help him. Jay had nothing else to do so he began reading the books Sandra gave him. Included were books on living the Christian life. That winter Jay read more books than he had since he was in school.
Sandra would spend her lunch hour talking with Jay. She told him that Christ could help him. Jay was open and receptive to this woman's love for him. Love had been the missing ingredient for most of his life. Knowing that someone cared about him, that someone loved him, was what helped Jay turn his life around. Jay acquired a new perspective on life, thanks to Sandra, who even helped him find a job. He began attending Sandra's church where he found other caring and supportive people who offered to help him.
Jay worked hard, continuing to read his Bible and attending church. Soon he found an apartment in the same neighborhood as the shelter. Others would complain about the bad neighborhood, but not Jay. He would share his positive outlook with others. He wanted to stay close so that when he wasn't working he could help others. The Mission coordinator speaks highly of Jay: "He's encouraged others to go the way he went."
On New Year's Day he prayed, giving thanks to God for the people who helped him to turn his life around. He knows there are areas he still needs to improve but takes each day as it comes. Of his new life, Jay explains, "I don't have any problems, really. I keep life simple."
