What's An Amma To Do?!?!

So, I am driving down the road a few blocks from home, two kids and three pizzas in the car and two other adults waiting for dinner at home, when on the side of the road I see a person in the ditch. Is it Ronnie or Forrest? I don't know. I stop and back up the car, put on the hazard lights and get out to check on him. I know him, but not his name; I know it now--it's Jerry. And Jerry is very drunk! What's an Amma to do? I don't know, but this is what I did...

I helped Jerry stand up, swaying, but standing none the less. His baby blue bedroll sits beside the ditch, his radio down in it. Before he falls down I get him to sit down by the bedroll. He repeats himself over and over again: "I'm sorry" "I can't get up" "I can't walk" "I'm sorry I'm drunk" "I need help". He wants to stand up again, so again I help him. What's an Amma to do? I don't know, but this is what I did...

I told Jerry my kids were in the car and I had to take them home before I could help him further. I asked where he "camped" and he couldn't exactly tell me. (Hmmm, when I come back where am I going to take him?) He kept repeating himself still... "I need help" "I need a ride" "I'm sorry" I told him again I would be back. He sat down next to the bedroll. He looked sad. I felt bad. What's an Amma to do? I don't know, but this is what I did...

I got back in the car. Thing One and Thing Two had lots of questions and lots to say: "What are you going to do" "What is wrong with him" "You have to come back and help him" "You are coming back, right" "He can't stay in the ditch... its raining". Back home we unload, go inside, and sit down for pizza. Thing One fills Hokie Fan and Nonny in on all the gory details... What's an Amma to do? I don't know, but this is what I did...

After dinner I called a fellow Jesus Freak (Mrs. T) to see if she knew where Jerry's camp is. "He is passing through," she tells me, but suggests John (one of the "bench boys") may know where he stays. So I call John; no minutes on his phone, so no John. I tell Hokie Fan I am going to see if Jerry is still in the ditch and then ask one of the "bench boys" to help get him to a different place--where, I don't know. Hokie Fan does not like the idea, but doesn't have a better one. He makes me promise to call him in 15 minutes. What's an Amma to do? I don't know, but this is what I did...

I got in the car and went to find Jerry. He was gone. I drive a few blocks knowing he couldn't have walked anywhere. I am sad. Is Jerry in jail? My hunch is yes. When there is no place for our homeless neighbors they drink themselves silly and end up in the Sheriff's Shelter, the most expensive "shelter" in town. How sad is that! What is an Amma to do!?!?

RevGalBlogPals Friday Five: Lent Edition

What are some things you appreciate about the season of Lent? Perhaps you would share 5 of them with us. And for your bonus question feel free to share one thing you could do without.

1) Ash Wednesday - For the last two years a colleague and I have worked together to create a "journey through lent" booklet (not the best descriptor...) that has the gospel readings for the season of Lent and questions for reflection. Then we created prayer stations in the sanctuary to go with each gospel reading. So the Ash Wednesday service is more of a self-guided prayer walk, and folks leave with a "guide" for the Lenten journey. This year will be different - more in keeping with a traditional Ash Wednesday service of repentance but still utilizing a prayer station... tweaking an idea I found at a website called "Contemplative Prayer Stations," and the idea I am using from there is called "Confession with sand".

http://www.creativeprayer.com/index.php?blog=2


2) I love the more reflective services in this season: Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday. I am challenged to be more creative and I love that! This year I hope to create a prayer station/prayer walk in the sanctuary for the Mon-Wed of Holy Week.

3) I am usually challenged in my own walk with Jesus in the season of Lent - as I challenge others to a more disciplined life, my own priorities are "in my face" and I am called to a closer walk.

4) Some of my favorite hymns are Lenten themed: What Wondrous Love Is This, Jesus Remember Me, O Sacred Head Now Wounded, Lift High the Cross, and more.

5) And I love that as we are moved in this season to consider our own walk with Jesus and his call on our lives - that we are reading and hearing of Jesus journey to the cross - and in the world around us spring is bringing the landscape to life promising resurrection.