Rucksacks in the hood

[Weekly installment on my ministry to the street people of Long Beach. It has been quite a journey and I have introduced some winsome folk over the
months of writing about LB. It is
great reading if you would like to read past briefings—www.pastorwoman.com,
click on Morning Briefings written, select Tales from Long Beach.]

The morning started off on a strange note because the two ‘senior’ fellows/pastors from the church came to allegedly pray with me before our weekly prayer meeting; great
idea in theory, but not in reality.
What they were really about is letting me know they’re clamping down on
the street people who hang around the church. I wonder how God felt about the ‘prayer time’ that really
wasn’t, and what ensued instead. I
know how I felt—unwanted. It seems
like maybe our steadily-growing prayer group will need to find a new home . . .
I’m working on it.

It was a little after eleven o’clock--CP time, (as they call it—colored people time), and time to start, so I took the floor, and submitted the time to God. The message I brought to focus our
prayer time was on inner healing—why we need it, and the fact that only God can
come and clean up a battered, broken life. Only God can truly wash away sin and guilt and make us over,
anew. It was a deep message for
the short time we had together, but it was a God-inspired word that I knew many
of the folk who gather in the basement needed—so, we made the most of the time
we had.

One of the greatest delights on these Friday mornings, is when the body ministers to the body. For instance, in response to
my question, “What do you need God to do for you today?” Antoine raised his hand and said, “I
need him to take away my anxiety…my worry.” “Does anyone know any Scripture that might help our brother
out?” I asked. And without taking
a breath, a handsome fellow with a worn leather Bible in front of him replied,
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God
which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus,” and then he was quiet, but the rest of the room broke out in
applause. Yes, Curtis, knew
Scripture that would provide help for Antoine’s distress . . .àpray.
Philippians 4.6-7

“In the Living translation, it says, ‘Do not worry about anything, instead, pray about everything…’” I told Antoine.
“Only God can give your heart and mind peace and rest.” And then we bowed our heads together
and prayed for all of the folk in the room who were battling worry, anxiety,
and fear—remember, most of these people lay their heads down on concrete at
night—fear is a constant in their existences.

“Someone else,” (I said, looking from face to face), “what do you need God to do for you today?” And this time, it was Curtis,
with a very solemn expression and furrowed brow, who said, “I want God to give
me a pure heart, a clean heart.” A
woman behind me said, “Psalm 51.”
I hadn’t even located it in my Bible, when Curtis with soulful eyes and
beautiful, clear voice, began singing the words of a pleasing melody, “Create
in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me…” The words King David sang to God,
crying out for cleansing after his sin of adultery with Bathsheba. David, who God called, ‘a man after my
own heart’, sinned mightily, but sought forgiveness, and purity of heart, and
he was restored.

This vignette fit right in with my message of our need for inner healing. I’m reminded of a time 25 years ago when I taught fitness classes. One
class I taught was 30 minutes of solid abdominals exercises, (several times a
week), and a guy named ‘Tom’ who was a regular. A retired Viet Nam vet, his days were filled with working
out—at 6 foot, 6 inches tall, he had only 2% body fat. One of his training exercises included
running down the beach, dragging a 75-pound rucksack behind him through the
sand. Incredible to watch.

Friends, are you dragging a rucksack behind you?

Are you weighed down by unforgiveness, guilt, past failures and pains?

‘Guess that explains why the Duke of Earl doesn’t go home—where his sisters and brother still live—to Illinois. He feels
so hurt by them, by things they said and did years ago, things that
wounded and shaped him. Then there
is the guilt he carries over his own moral failures, crushing the spirit of a
wife who loved him, when he thought other women would make him more happy. . .
and the memories from Nam, the drugs to cover the pain of all of these, all the
while he knew better. . . remember, I mentioned earlier that he was raised in
the church. He knew/knows the
right way, and he knows when he violates his conscience…still.

Friends, are you dragging a 75-pound rucksack behind you—filled with shame or unforgiveness, or failed expectations? Cut the
ropes, drag it around in front of you, take out your pains, and give each to
the One who loves you. Ask him to
heal your heart, heal your pain, and set you free. And then do not pick up the burdens again.

Honestly, I have to open my rucksack today, and give those two ‘praying’ controlling church guys to God—let Him decide where my people and I will pray on Fridays. He is the God in control. He is the God on the throne. Hallelujah. Empty your rucksack today . . .

Christine