One of these things is not like the others, one of these things just doesn’t belong… Following a legendary four square battle at Soak, I had to lock up the Admin building before going home. So I headed up the covered walk only to find a man sitting on one of the benches. He was disheveled, but sat reading his bible. Certainly he was homeless and I assumed he sat there to ask for money, so I quickly said “hello” and walked on. But after locking the doors and reaching the car, I stopped. In my hands was all kinds of things from the night. Including left over pizza…

   So I went back to the man and offered the pizza. He asked for a glass of water, so I drove to the gas station for a bottle (I did not want to mess with the church alarm or search for a cup). As I came back he was still reading the bible and offered me money for the water I had just bought…

  The sludge that lives inside. He sat on a bench reading the bible and I assumed he was playing me for money. I thought the bible was just to make an appearance of holiness **, so I join the Pharisees and pass by on the other side.

“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?” … The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one the least of these brothers and sisters, you did for me.”     ~ Matthew 25:37, 40

** Of course CERTAIN appearances do not trouble me at all! Today, this Sunday morning, we will all gather together wearing a dress or slacks with a button up shirt—we may not have even brought a Bible. But this man, with a chaotic hair and beard.  Looking quite literally like the Jesus (who was a homeless man). This man, reading his Bible, was out place in my mind. Like the Sesame Street song, he did not belong…  When did clothes, did money, become the definition of a Christian? I imagine me, with my silly definitions, will be one who feels out of place in God’s coming Kingdom.