A Message of Love

There is a homeless man who I have become very acquainted with. In fact, he makes up a lot of the stories in my life and even some of the ones on this site. To many, he is known as the guy who jumps in dumpsters looking for cans. To me, he is a more than that. To me, he is Colonel, he is Warren, he is a friend.

He used to walk around with two other guys, but both of them have recently left them leaving him all alone. About a week ago, I spent about an hour with him just talking, and in his words and even his actions, you could sense a bit of that loneliness. This led me to ask about his family and he told me a little bit about his mother and father. He said that he hadn't talked to them in over a year and hadn't seen them in nearly 30 years. This is something that I could not even begin to imagine.

When I made it back to my bed that night, I couldn't get this guy off my mind. I felt so burdened for Colonel and I didn't really know how to respond to that burden. It was past midnight, but I threw some clothes back on and went out to look for him, but came back a half-hour later with no success.

Several days of hard snowfall followed and I didn't see Colonel around. I wasn't sure where he was staying or if he was even still alive. But a lot of my prayers were wrapped up in him, as I still had a heavy burden on my heart for him.

Sunday after church, I was passing by one of the dumpsters and there he was, sitting on an abandoned couch enjoying a drink he had found. I stood there and visited with him for a little bit and got to talk to him more about his family. He brought up again the fact that he hadn't talked with his parents in a long time and so I offered to try to find his parents for him. He gave me their names and the city they live in and I told him I would do my best but couldn't make any promises.

A few hours later, I sat down at a computer and typed in the names of his parents (both very common names) and only one entry was found that matched the description. That was easy enough! I preceded in calling the phone number listed and here is how the conversation followed:

Linda: Hello?
Me: Hi is this Linda?
Linda: Yes it is. Can I help you?
Me: Yes my name is Todd McClure and I am a student at Marshall University in Huntington, WV. I believe I have met your son, Warren.
Linda: Are you sure you have the right number? I haven't seen my son in years.
Me: Is your middle name Joyce?
Linda: Yes it is. Do you really know my son? How did you get my number?
Me: Well I asked him if he wanted me to get him in touch with you all and so I just looked up your names on the internet and found your number.

(Jump ahead)

Linda: Well how is he doing? Does he have a job? Does he have a place to live?
Me: Well I don't think he has a place to live most nights, but he seems to be doing fine. He has plenty of warm clothes and has made it through the harsh part of the winter. And I think he is doing fine on food as well. He makes a little bit of money here and there to pay for meals.
Linda: How do you know him? Where did you meet him?
Me: Well I help out with a river ministry and I first met him there, but now I just see him all over town and have become pretty good friends with him. He has told me a lot about you.

(Jump ahead)

Linda: I cannot tell you how much of a blessing it is to hear your voice. I pray for him every day, and I really do worry about him every day. I never know how he is doing or if he is even still alive. So you are a definite answer to prayer right now. Warren got in a lot of trouble down here with ____ and some other things and left on a bad note. He was the middle child and felt like we loved the other two more than him. In that sense he was always lonely. He got married, but his wife and two kids left him and so he turned to _____ as a way of dealing with his loneliness. Then he took off for the Navy and has just never been the same. I think what he really needs in his life is a friend. He was baptized when he was a little boy and I know prayer works and he will one day come back around. I just worry about him every day.
Me: Well like you just said, prayer really does work, so I don't think there is any need for you to worry. I may be your answer to prayer. I don't know. He has just been a huge burden on my heart and I have enjoyed getting to know him. You just keep praying and we'll see what God does.
Linda: Can I ask you a question? Are you an angel?
Me: Well I am far from an angel but I will do my best to show him Christ.
Linda: Well I haven't been able to tell him this in a long time, but can you tell him that we love him?
Me: I would be happy to.

There is a lot more to that conversation, but that is enough for my point. That conversation really tore me up, and I am sure that it really affected a lot of you as well. As one other person pointed out to me, I have a message of love to share with Colonel from his mom. He is loved and he doesn't even know it. I have been appointed the messenger of this great message.

While these sort of stories break our hearts, why don't stories of the Gospel do the same? There are so many people in the world who are loved and they don't even know it! You have been given the message and told to take it to the ends of the earth. This message is even greater than the message of love from Colonel's mom! How can we keep that in?

In closing, I want to remind you of the message of love that we have been given:

"For God so loved the world, that He sent His one and only Son, the whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16