December 11, 2006

Jamie

Bang! Chris, my wife, heard it. A gunshot. It was 12:15 AM, on Sunday Morning; Chris was up watching TV and I was in bed. She didn't see anything, but at 1:00 AM she got me up as the police had put up crime scene tape right across the street from our house. We didn't see much action outside; however, we were sure it had to do with the neighbors we knew the best. We went to bed and at about 4:30 AM our doorbell rang and it was John, the finance of Jamie, who is the mother of three elementary-aged children. John explained that he was jumped and as he was fleeing they shot at him. The bullet hit a tree; he was OK, but wanted me to talk to Jamie, who was very upset. It was the first time I was invited into an apartment. The apartments are very small, the kitchen was about six by eight feet. The stove, refrigerator, table, washer, and radiator took up all the floor space in that room except for a walkway in front of the kitchen sink. The living room was filled with smoke. I could see her on the couch, crying. It took awhile
but she was able to talk and she did calm down. From that point on, I was welcomed into their family as we welcome (note given to me a few days after fired shots) them into ours.

Jamie has had a rough life. After high school, she married and began to have children. Alcohol and an abusive husband destroyed her marriage. With really no options, Jamie moved into government housing. Jamie is one of the lucky ones: she has a three-bedroom apartment for her son and two daughters. Jamie struggles as do most of the neighbors. She is probably an alcoholic but recently completed a rehab program. Jamie is responsible and tries to understand and follow all the government-imposed rules. To follow the rules she often walks downtown to keep appointments with social workers, therapist, and even lawyers. When a bike was secured for her, she was able to get around town more quickly. Jamie has to work hard to care for her children; it is not always easy, as her son has special needs.

Jamie’s kids are in church all the time. In the morning and at night, recently, Jamie has begun to attend with them. Jamie knows about Jesus and is spiritual. She is one of best volunteers in the outreach. It is not unusual for Jamie to pack groceries, put away groceries, unload trucks, or load trucks. I have seen her sort potatoes, clothing and cans of food. She has washed tables, dishes and counter tops. She painted three classrooms in one day, not to mention carrying bags and bags of clothing up three flights of stairs. Jamie works circles around most of us.

Jamie will be the first to tell you she has made some bad decisions, some with dire consequences. Jamie spends a great deal of time untangling her life, trying straighten things out, putting her life back together again. She gets a great deal of encouragement from “Pastor” Gloria who gives her advice and is a mother figure to her. Then, there is a woman who attends the church and works in the outreach who has taken Jamie under her wing to mentor her. Now Jamie is attending church saying that there she gets the strength to get through another week. Jamie, whose life seems at times so hopeless, is allowing God to surround her with people who bring hope. One of the goals in the outreach is to create a culture of hope. I wonder if we could offer ourselves as “givers of hope” to someone who needs hope. Not that we can “fix” somebody, but maybe we could walk with somebody ---- listening, caring, sharing, and showing compassion. Maybe the best Christmas gift we can give is not found in a store or purchased with a credit card. Maybe giving ourselves to someone else is the best Christmas present we can give. I know that gifts purchased in a store are faster, easier, and less messy, but they are not eternal, or as rewarding.

Postscript: On a recent Sunday morning, as I was reading the scripture, I could see Jamie
was choking back tears. As the sermon progressed I could see the tears streaming, down her checks. By the end of the sermon she was being comforted by those around her. We prayed for Jamie. The scripture for the day came from Luke 7:36-49, “Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them…Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - - - for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little
loves little. "Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." At the end the service, Jamie told us that she never expected to hear her story in church, let alone experience the love of Jesus in such a powerful way. Jamie left a new person.