Opening Prayer:
Dear Jesus,
Speak to me during this day about the story you are telling, the story I was made for. Open my eyes, Lord, to the ways that story is being lived out in the events and circumstances of this day. Show me how all that happens to me this day echoes Your larger Story if only I will keep my heart focused on you. In your name I pray. Amen. (JLB)
Psalm for the Week: Psalm 107
Scripture for the Day: Luke 10:25-37
Reading for Reflection:
Every month, the youth group at River Road Church
visited Holcomb Manor, a local nursing home, to hold church services for the
residents. Daryl, a reluctant youth
group volunteer, did not like nursing homes.
For a long time, he had avoided the monthly services. But when a flu epidemic depleted the group of
leaders, Daryl agreed to help with the next month’s service, as long as he did
not have to be part of the program.
During
the service, Daryl felt awkward and out of place. He leaned against the back wall, between two
residents in wheelchairs. Just as the
service finished and Daryl was thinking about a quick exit, someone grabbed his
hand. Startled, he looked down and saw a
very old, frail, and obviously lonely man in a wheelchair. What could Daryl do but hold the man’s
hand? The man’s mouth hung open, and his
face held no expression. Daryl doubted
whether he could hear or see anything.
As
everyone began to leave, Daryl realized he didn’t want to leave the old
man. Daryl had been left too many times
in his own life. Caught somewhat
off-guard by his feelings, Daryl leaned over and whispered, “I’m…uh…sorry, I
have to leave, but I’ll be back. I
promise.” Without warning, the man
squeezed Daryl’s hand and then let go.
As Daryl’s eyes filled with tears, he grabbed his stuff and started to
leave. Inexplicably, he heard himself
say to the old man, “I love you,” and he thought, Where did that come
from? What’s the matter with me?
Daryl
returned the next month and the month after that. Each time, it was the same. Daryl would stand in the back, Oliver would
grab his hand, Daryl would say he had to leave, Oliver would squeeze his hand,
and Daryl would say softly, “I love you Mr. Leak.” (He had learned his name of
course.) As the months went on, about a
week before the Holcomb Manor service, Daryl would find himself looking forward
to visiting his aged friend.
On
Daryl’s sixth visit, the service started, but Oliver still hadn’t been wheeled
out. Daryl didn’t feel too concerned at
first, because it often took the nurses a long time to wheel everyone out. But halfway into the service, Daryl became
alarmed. He went to the head nurse. “Um, I don’t see Mr. Leak here today. Is he okay?”
The nurse asked Daryl to follow her and led him to room 27.
Oliver
lay in his bed, his eyes closed, his breathing uneven. At forty years of age, Daryl had never seen
someone dying, but he knew that Oliver was near death. Slowly, he walked to the side of the bed and
grabbed Oliver’s hand. When Oliver
didn’t respond, tears filled Daryl’s eyes.
He knew he might never see Oliver alive again. He had so much he wanted to say, but the
words wouldn’t come out. He stayed with
Oliver for about an hour, then the youth director gently interrupted to say
they were leaving.
Daryl
stood and squeezed Mr. Leak’s hand for the last time. “I’m sorry , Oliver, I have to go. I love you.”
As he unclasped his hand, he felt a squeeze. Mr. Leak had responded! He had squeezed Daryl’s hand! The tears were unstoppable now, and Daryl
stumbled toward the door, trying to regain his composure.
A young woman was standing at the door, and
Daryl almost bumped into her. “I’m
sorry,” he said, “I didn’t see you.”
“It’s
all right, I’ve been waiting to see you,” she said. “I’m Oliver’s granddaughter. He’s dying, you know.”
“Yes, I
know.”
“I
wanted to meet you,” she said. “When the doctors said he was dying, I came
immediately. We have always been very
close. They said he couldn’t talk, but
he’s been talking to me. Not much, but I
know what he is saying. Last night he
woke up. His eyes were bright and
alert. He looked straight into my eyes
and said, ‘Please say goodbye to Jesus for me,’ and he laid back down and
closed his eyes.
“He
caught me off guard, and as soon as I gathered my composure, I whispered to
him, ‘Grandpa, I don’t need to say goodbye to Jesus; you’re going to be with
him soon, and you can tell him hello.’
“Grandpa
struggled to open his eyes again. This
time his face lit up with a mischievous smile, and he said as clearly as I’m
talking to you, ‘I know, but Jesus comes to see me every month, and he might
not know I’m gone.’ He closed his eyes
and hasn’t spoken since.
“I told
the nurse what he’d said, and she told me about you, coming every month,
holding Grandpa’s hand. I wanted to
thank you for him, for me…and, well, I never thought of Jesus being as chubby
and bald as you, but I imagine that Jesus is very glad to have had you be
mistaken for him. I know Grandpa
is. Thank you.”
She
leaned over and kissed Daryl on the forehead.
Oliver Leak died peacefully the next morning. (Messy Spirituality
by Michael Yaconelli)
Reflection and Listening: silent and written
Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself
Song for the Week: Step By Step
O God, you are my God And I will ever praise you
Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself
Song for the Week: Step By Step
O God, you are my God And I will ever praise you
O God, you are my God
And I will ever praise you
I will seek you in the morning
And learn to walk in your ways
And step by step you’ll lead me
And I will follow you all of my days
And I will follow you all of my days,
Yes I will follow you all of my days
And step by step you’ll lead me
And I will follow you all of my days
Closing Prayer:
Father, write yourself upon my heart and life—that I may be an open book about you, so that others might read of your unending love on every page. In the name of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Amen. (JLB)
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