"A Good Word"

If you have read any of the previous posts you probably have come across some comments about our weekly food distribution to the poor called "Loaves and Fishes".

Today, there was a man there who had attended a few times before, who obviously had some issues that made you do a double take. He appeared to be a bit intoxicated or had some mental illness or both. With no intention of being disrespectful, I would describe him as a "mess".

I talked with some of the friends he came with and asked if he was alright. They told me that he came from a very dysfunctional family, had addiction problems and was claustrophobic. That was evident when he would leave the room and go outside twice while our worship minister was doing the devotional. In fact, the second time he came back in, he looked at me with a pained look on his face and said, "I'm trying man". He later told me that his best friend was his dog "Rabie" and that he had a very difficult time being in a room with anyone but his dog. I think it would take a therapist years to peel way the layers to get to the root of this man's pain.

I found myself wondering way this man, who was so miserable, was subjecting himself to a room full of people and was away from his dog? Well, he answered that question when I over heard him telling one of his friends on the porch, "I just need to hear a good word".

Often, church members and others, will tell me that they would like to work in the ministry to the poor, but they don't know what to say to them. This man, who's issues seemed so deep and complicated, only needed "a good word". How simple is that?