The broken man

I have been taken on a journey with story lately.  This journey began by hearing about the conference of the same name held in Chicago by Ben Arment.  I then followed Emma Boyd‘s journey to story, her experiences at the conference and her numerous blog posts about how the concept of story is challenging and changing her.  Therefore, it is in that spirit that I share with you the following…

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I met a gentleman on the street today.

It was 11am and I was on my way to Common Grounds in Belfast for a coffee and he approached me outside the church just around the corner.  He decided to break the ice by telling me that he was evicted from his house at midnight and had spent his first night on the streets.  He was cradling a mug of warm tea…barely, whilst in the other hand he was pinching a cigarette.  He was clearly exhausted and cold.  he told me he had managed to get the cup of tea he was holding, and a sandwich a couple of hours earlier.

We only spoke for about 10 minutes (10 minutes more than the previous passers by had given him) yet he shared some of his story with me.  he shared his story all the while edging towards me.  He told me that what the papers had said about him was not true…he was very adamant about this.  I then asked him what the papers had said about him.  He told me that they were saying that he had murdered his son.

He broke down.

Tears streaming down his confused face.

Now, I cannot testify to the veracity of his story, or that of the papers.  I just knew that before was a man broken.  That made me broken.

He seemed embarrassed by his tears…I just let him continue thinking it best.

When he stopped crying he told me he had been off alcohol for 38 weeks.  I congratulated him for this.  However, he seemed confused all the time we were talking, stopping to ask my name several times.  A friendly character his mind seemed ravaged and ruined by a hard life, a life of drugs, alcohol, and possibly abuse.

As I was on my way for a coffee I offered him along with the offer of hot food.  He declined.  He was waiting outside the church for a meeting with the minister.  He said the church would look after him.

Beautiful.

A broken person coming to the church for refuge, for charity.

Surely this is why we exist…to engage with a broken world, to restore a broken world.

This is proof that the church still has valid reason to exist.  People like this still come to the church, expectant.  They come, probably knowing little of Christ, but having some conviction of his transforming power.

I couldn’t tempt him away.  He insisted on waiting for his meeting with the minister whose name he couldn’t recall for the life of him.  He bid me farewell and we departed.  I cannot remember the gentleman’s name.  I’m not convinced he can.

However, I hope and pray that the church looked after him, and the church met his needs and fulfilled their duty.

Jump in with your thoughts, leave a comment…

Filed under: Uncategorized, Action, Belfast, Charity, Christianity, Church, Coffee, Culture, Hope, Justice, Love, Northern Ireland, People, Social Action, Social Justice, Story

Robinson’s sorrow for Daly

Finally, Peter Robinson issued a press release about the passing of Cardinal Daly.  We thought it was never going to happen. But, finally, the First Minister for all of Northern Ireland has expressed his condolences…or has he?

In the five paragraph press release which can be seen in full below, is essentially a defence of why he didn’t release a statement sooner.  Apparently no-one told him he had to…this man is in charge of a country!  With the last paragraph of the diatribe devoted to his sorrow at the passing of one of Ireland’s most important, beloved and prophetic public figures.

The DUP statement:

Northern Ireland First Minister, Peter Robinson, said he deplored the attempt by a few elements in the press and politics to use the fact that he has been indisposed due to family issues to suggest that he had refused to release a statement on the sad passing of Cardinal Daly. Such insensitive reporting is indicative of the political baggage of those who make up such stories.

No statement, or suggestion to release a statement, was put to him by either OFMDFM or the party. The DUP issued a statement in the name of Mr Robinson’s Ministerial colleague, Arlene Foster, because they knew Mr Robinson was out of circulation.

Mr Robinson was one of those who had been at the forefront of initiating contact between the DUP and the Roman Catholic Church and indeed met the present Cardinal along with the other church leaders just before the Christmas break. A party spokesman said Mr Robinson would be last person to offend the late Cardinal’s family friends and wider community.

In a statement today Mr Robinson thanked the many hundreds who had written to him expressing sympathy and support following Iris’s announcement about her retirement. “It is comforting to receive such communications from across the community and from politicians in all the parties. It is also reassuring to know that so many others including politicians and journalists acknowledge that they too have faced similar difficulties in life and overcome them.”

“I want to take this opportunity to extend my sincere sympathy to the family of the late Cardinal Cahal Daly at this particularly sad time. I am acutely aware of the high esteem with which Cardinal Daly was held by many throughout the community. Although I never met him I acknowledge that his contribution to the religious and civic life of Northern Ireland was immense and spanned a very bleak period in our history. He was consistent in his opposition to the use of violence to advance political objectives. Cardinal Daly’s passing has caused immense grief for many in the community who looked to him for spiritual and theological guidance and my thoughts are also with them at this time.”

Too little, too late?  You decide…

Filed under: Uncategorized, Belfast, Culture, Excuses, Leadership, Northern Ireland, People, Politics

Can the Deaf Dance?

Last night I visited Christian Fellowship Church in Belfast.  A vibrant church, full of amazing, committed, passionate people, who genuinely want the peace of Christ to penetrate Ireland, and who want to make an impact on the Nations.

As I was worshipping last night, out of the corner of my eye I noticed the interpreter for the deaf in the audience on stage.  I don’t know why, but I am always fascinated by a signer and their method of communicating in such an expressive way not only the emotions but the mood.  I then glanced at whom they were signing to.  I noticed a deaf woman dancing.  I don;t know why, but it caught me off guard.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen a deaf person dance before.  They are unable to know the metre, rhythm, and cadence of the song…yet that didn’t seem to matter…

This woman was caught in a moment of worship.  She was meeting with her creator.  Expressing love from the purest place, unconcerned about the stuff that she can’t know, assured in the love and relationship with her Christ.
It’s moments like these that should give people confidence in the church…good things are happening.

What a pure moment.

What a beautiful picture.

Filed under: Uncategorized, Belfast, Christianity, Church, Life, Love, People, Worship

DUP incompetence stikes…again.

I’ve made it clear to all and sundry not only here on the blog, but in person that I am no fan of the DUP.  I can think of far more suited names for their acronym.

Peter Robinson, the First Minister of Northern Ireland has made the mother of all faux pas’ this week in relation to Cardinal Daly’s death.  There is nothing honourable about that Rt Hon Peter Robinson, I thought you wouldn’t need me to tell you that.  Cardinal Daly, a man outspoken against IRA violence (the same IRA violence the DUP stand opposed to) was a key figure in the Northern Ireland peace process.  Surely he deserves more respect from the leaders of the country that he served and bettered.  Cardinal Daly is a man who has done more for this country, the peace of this country, the people of this country, and the future of this country than most of the sitting representatives at Stormont can wag their fingers at.

Many, including national media, have made mention of this horrible neglect on the DUP’s part.  One of Northern Ireland’s most prominent political commentators Slugger O’Toole asks does it show a lack of leadership on the DUP’s part?  I would suggest that it certainly does…lack of leadership and outright disrespect.

A distinguished scholar in Philosophy, Daly actively avoided political involvement, and critique.  Surely he must be respected, fondly remembered and heartily thanked for his life, a life given in service to the country and people he loved, a life that longed for cohesion and betterment.

Thank you Cardinal Cahal Daly.  Thank you for what you have done for this country.  Thank you for what you have done for the cause of Christ.  Thank you for your work of reconciliation.  And thank you for what you have done for me.

I pray you will be remembered fondly in the hearts of the people of this land as an usher of peace and a testament, and shining light to the transformative power of Christ.

Filed under: Uncategorized, Belfast, Charity, Church, Culture, Hope, Leadership, Life, Peace, People, Politics, Religion