Many of the folks living on the street have either lost or had their forms of identification stolen. Though we do our best to help obtain their government identification cards, The Welcome Church emphasizes the true identity we have as beloved daughters and sons of a living God. As a symbol of that identity and a way to be connected even during the long hours of what can be a very lonely night, we offer crosses specially designed for folks living on the street. When a person asks for a cross, we place it around their neck with a blessing. This night I share one of the many stories surrounding these crosses.
“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
—I Corinthians 1:18
For years, Drew lived on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. Each time we would go to the park to set up for worship, Drew would be there reading his Bible, ready to help in any way he could. He especially liked to be a lector, reading the texts with passion and conviction.
As sometimes happens on the street, Drew disappeared for several weeks. In spite of efforts to locate him, we could not find him. Weeks later, Drew showed up for Sunday worship in the park, explaining that he had been in the hospital recovering from a stab wound.It was during the service that Drew gave his testimony. Pushing his shirt aside, Drew showed us the still fresh chest wound where he had been hurt. Next to the stab wound, we could see that Drew was still wearing the cross given to him with a blessing when we first met.
Drew shared that it was the cross that saved his life. He went on to explain that the doctor had told him the knife had missed his heart by a fraction of an inch. In Drew’s word, “The cross got in the way and saved my life.”
What image would be a symbol of your faith? An image of your connection to God?
A sign of your true identity as a beloved child of the Holy One?
Words from “A New Zealand Prayer Book”:
Lord…
It is night after a long day,
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.
