A car accident I came upon in Columbia MD in 2008.
Every Tuesday night I take a team of our students down to Waikiki to do street ministry. There is never a dull night…
We had just returned from our “Wilderness Wandering” camping trip. When we headed to the van to jump in, all the students complained that they were tired, I was tired too. I told them that we’d just take it easy this week, and instead of me dropping them off where I usually do, we would park all together and go from there.
I went to go see Jim who is always on the same bench. He is always pleasant to talk to, which is not always the case with everyone we run into down there. When I came up and said hello, I noticed his legs were covered in broken blisters, and he was swollen. His arms and hands had open sores on them too. I kept my distance, fumbling with the hand sanitizer I had in my pocket, with which I wanted to take a bath in right there. I asked him what happened, he responded it was sun burn, from sitting on that bench all day. Flies were crawling all over him. He then went on to tell me how much pain he was in and how he was throwing up blood last night. I told him I was going to call an ambulance for him. He insisted that I didn’t do that. He told me someone else had already tried earlier and he told them he didn’t want help.
I stood there and talked with him some more. I realized that I couldn’t just walk away. If something serious happened to this guy, I would feel responsible. I told him that, I told him that I cared about him, and that I enjoyed seeing him every week and it was something that I looked forward to. He was quite taken a back by that. I think it had been a while since he heard anyone say that they cared about him.
The ambulance came, and they checked his vitals. They told him multiple times that he needed to go to the hospital to get checked out. That throwing up blood and the pains in his stomach were not normal and he could have internal bleeding and that the he could die tonite. His response, “that’s the easy way out.” They had him sign a document saying that he refused to go, I had to sign the document too as a witness. I stood there on the verge of tears, angered and upset. I realized that there was NOTHING I could do to change this guys mind to actually get the help he needed.
Like, (lee-kay \ R.K’s wife, the couple that hosts this outreach) came down and sat next to Jim. She put her hand on top of his and talked to him for a while. Since he was unwilling to go to the hospital, Like offered to clean out his wounds. I stood there amazed. Like and RK are the real deal. They give out their cell phone numbers to the people they are ministering to in the street, they go the extra mile, and they get their hands dirty. They are willing to get down on their knees and clean out the infected wounds of a dirty, 60 year old homeless man. I’m really really challenged by that.
I said goodbye to Jim and went back and found one of my students… read part 2 here.
Engage: Go read Deuteronomy 15:11 and let me know how you think that verse applies today. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Engage: Go read Deuteronomy 15:11 and let me know how you think that verse applies today. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
(Visited 62 times, 1 visits today)
by Jim Baker
If more people got more personally involved with those in need, we wouldn’t need the government to provide so many needs to the poor. That there will always be poor people implies, I think, that no matter how much money you throw at some people, that will not keep them from being poor. They need comfort and concern at least as much as money. I hope your friend gets well and takes another shot at life. Maybe now he knows someone is there who cares, and that will make the difference.
We translate ths as “give money”, but it’s more about personal care and contact. Like the guy that you talked to, he didn’t want you to call the ambulance but spending the time with him and caring about him was more important and meaningful to him. When you say helping the poor so many think they need money from us but helping in shelters, clothing drives and reaching out with your heart to me is more important than any amount of money. Money will help but it’s much more than that.
when does part 2 come?? Sounds like I should come out there and offer my sevices =) I feel for this guy! Glad you were there to give the man some comfort!! <3 you!!
The physical, emotional and spiritual resources God has given you are not just for you.
indeed!
part 2 will come soon
I’ve been telling you should come out here, there would be plenty of things for you to do 
agreed! there are a million ways to help! maybe i should do a blog post on that…
i agree that throwing money at someone won’t make them rich. i’m hoping that i gave him some hope, i’m excited to see him tmrw.
Oh come on. It’s like a crazy good book having to wait to see what’s next
[…] RK told me that he died of a heart attack sitting on the bench that I would always go and visit him on. […]