January 8th, 2008

True joy
 
Hello my friend:

On Sunday 13 pairs of eyeballs were opened really wide. 

Was it a suspense thriller?

A roller coaster ride?

No.

My religious education students and I fed the homeless and
hungry.

I'm not talking about tearing off the little slip of paper
at the grocery cashier that adds $1.98 onto your bill as a
donation.

I'm talking about physically going to a shelter, bringing
and cooking a meal, serving the hungry and cleaning up.

My students were a little scared at first and bombarded me
with questions.  Should we talk to them?  Will they be mean
to us?  Will any fights break out?

I reminded them that these are people just like
themselves.  Well, minus the cell phones, designer clothes
and dance lessons, of course.

And when you put goodness into the world by helping the
less fortunate like this, it will come back to you many
times over. 

My students' eyes were like saucers when the meal guests
began coming in. 

Ripped, worn-out clothes.  Dirty hair.  Rancid smells.

Holes in their shoes.  Rotted teeth.  Yellow fingernails.

I was the greeter at the door, so the students saw right
away how to interact with the people...

...I smiled at each one, gave them their meal ticket (a
poker chip) and told them to enjoy the meal.

And do you know what?

Without exception, every one smiled back and thanked me. 

I had to choke back tears when I saw kids come
in...especially when a little boy about my son's age looked
at me with his big, brown eyes.

And I really did have to get tissues to dry my eyes when
one of the men came over to me and said, "That meal was
delicious.  I am blessed.  Thank you."

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