Making a difference…

Its early Sunday morning as I write this blog. It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks for me from a personal standpoint. And tomorrow? We are going on a little family vacation. But it’s not quite the vacation we planned. You see, originally, the plan was to go to Alabama to spend a few days with my Father. We booked tickets months ago to fly out of Kansas City. Lots cheaper going that route. And we’d get the chance to see my niece graduate from high school. Her mother, my oldest sister Cindy, passed away 10 years ago this September. How did 10 years get by us so quickly? Anyway, we knew Dad’s health was failing pretty quickly, but we just didn’t think he’d leave us quite so soon. So now instead of visiting with him, we’ll try to take care of some loose ends that exist when a person leaves this huge ball of dirt. And we get to visit with my sister Kathy and her boys. One thing that definitely happened through this situation is my resolve to not let distance be an excuse to not have a relationship with family. It’s so easy to let time get away from us. So easy. Like I said, I simply cannot believe that my big sister has been gone 10 years…she made such a difference in my life. I simply wound not be where I am today had it not been for God blessing me and Robin with her astounding witness for Christ. I witnessed her faith right up to the very end and that changed my life in a profound manner. She, because of her faith and because of her belief in Christ, made a difference on this earth. No doubt about it.

So as I said, it’s Sunday morning and we obviously haven’t been downtown yet today. I normally wait and write this after we get back, for obvious reasons. But today, since we are going to be on the road to KC tonight, I thought I’d throw few things out that happened this week for me. I’ve felt a bit of a renewed energy around this ministry this week for various different reasons. One of them has to do with spring finally arriving and the longest winter known to man finally passing us by. Good grief! Whoever thought that an outdoor ministry would work here in Nebraska obviously didn’t consult with the local natives! We have a group of youngsters who come down to help on a fairly regular basis. They don’t usually come because of their inherent desire to make a difference. They usually show up because the county court orders them to do a little community service. I was talking to a young girl last week and it was amazing to me to think back to this past winter and seeing these young girls come down in sub-zero weather looking like they were going to the beach. I’m dressed like the kid in the Christmas Story and worried that if I fall, I might need help getting up. And these girls don’t even have gloves or hats. And this young lady tells me that she wants to come down more often now that the weather is nicer. Whatever it takes. The door is open for anyone to come and offer whatever they may have to offer. Just come down, bring whatever gifts God has gifted you with and do your part to make a difference…

So this week something else happened that I wanted to mention. Last December, I made a standing lunch date for Thursdays with one of the fellows I met downtown on our very first Sunday. Bill is a guy I’ve written about many times. So Bill and I had a standing lunch date to meet at a prearranged meeting place every Thursday at 11:30. So as I said, the first time we were to meet was a day last December. He did indeed show up. We went to a place called The Atomic Dog. Had a hotdog and just good conversation. I mentioned to Bill that maybe we could go a little deeper. We’d known each other all of a year and a month for crying out loud. Let’s maybe get to know each other a little better, but more importantly, let’s talk about God’s Word. Would Bill be interested? He said he would, but I sensed trepidation. And I was worried that I’d scare him off. Well, either I scared him off or something else happened, because that was the last time we met. So for the next 5 months or so, I continued to go, every single Thursday to our prescribed meeting place, but no Bill. As I’d see him on Sundays, he’d say that maybe he’d be there…maybe not. I simply reinforced that I’d be there regardless. If he showed up? Cool. If not, there’s always next week. Or is there? No promise that we even have tomorrow, much less next week! So through all of this, we’d met one time. In over 5 months? One time! And then last week? I was in a class at work all morning. We were scheduled to be out of class at 11:30. Bill and I were scheduled to meet at? 11:30. It had been raining all morning, so my guess was that he’d not be there anyway. But I always made the trip regardless, so I knew I had to make it that day. Rain and all. The class wraps up at 11:30. I grab an umbrella and make the 2 block trip up to our meeting place. No Bill. I’m not really surprised. I mean the very definition of insanity is performing the same act repeatedly with the expectation of a different result. But in this case, call me crazy. I know some day he’ll be there and on the chance that happens, I need to be there also. So I head back to work a little defeated. Because last Sunday, Bill told e he’d be there. I saw him a couple of times this week in the park and he mentioned he’d be there. I just figured because of the rain and whatever, he decided to make other plans. Funny thing happened later that day. I get a call on the way home from work. ODM (Open Door Mission) on my caller id. It’s Bill. He says he saw me from a couple of blocks away. Called it right down to the clothes I was wearing and my umbrella. And mentioned he recognized my walk. So he did make it. He was late, I was late, and we just missed each other. But it’s a start. Maybe next time we’ll actually hook up. The cool thing for me was that he called this time and wanted to make sure I knew that he didn’t stand me up. I don’t even know what these weekly meetings are supposed to accomplish. I only know that for some reason, I really want to know Bill better. And I want to share with him what a difference Christ can make in his life. God’s at work there. Of that I have no doubt. It’s a journey, but I know He will, at some point, make a difference in Bill’s life. No doubt. It’s all about making a difference.

And the folks from Papio Creek are on board now for sure. We had a meeting with them this week and they want to help in a multitude of ways. They told us they’ve been looking for a missional opportunity like this and here Robin and I are just a couple of miles away, in the same community, doing just as we feel God has directed us and they want to help also. I talked to their pastor for a few minutes after our meeting and it was so cool to know that God continues to send people. I simply cannot express how amazed I am at His faithfulness. There are so many people willing to help and He just keeps sending them. As people come and go, I just never worry about how this thing is going to continue on. He just keeps directing. Ministering. It’s just incredible how He moves the pieces around and continually makes a difference to all of us. On both sides of this crazy thing. To the people serving and those being served. And me? I simply want to hear those words when the day comes. "Good job…you made a difference. You heard, you listened, and you obeyed." Making a difference in the name of Christ. Isn’t that what it’s supposed to be about?

Peace and have a great and blessed week.

Go out and make a difference.

…it matters to that one… :)

Good Message?

So this week my mind was a bit preoccupied. For obvious reasons I guess. It’s so strange to know that I’ll never be able to call my Dad again. We had a rough go for lots of years, but the last 10 or so were real good. I am so thankful that we were able to make amends and put the past behind us. I have no regrets about his passing, other than the fact that we here are left to deal with the grief and anguish that goes along with this kind of deal. I know all the clichés…he’s in a better place…no more pain…no more suffering. All that stuff is so true. But we only get one father here on earth. And now mine is gone. No more football chats in the fall. No more lots of things. But the cool thing about it all is that I’ll see him again someday. I’m as sure as I can be about that. I’ll see him again, along with my sister Cindy who left 10 years ago. And all the others who have gone before him. I’ll see ‘em again.

I prayed this morning that I could use Dad’s passing as an example to our friends downtown. You see, when I was born my Dad was an alcoholic. When I got my first report card? Alcoholic. I’ll never forget coming up the street, must have been 1969, with my very first report card from grade school. The car was parked really weird in the driveway. Against a tree. Good thing the tree was there or it would have rolled down our fairly steep driveway into the street and who knows what. So I remember going in the house, so proud of my first grades. And I found my father "asleep" on the couch. Only he wasn’t sleeping. That is really one of my first conscious memories. The thing is, he was in the throes of an addiction. I read a blog recently by a homeless fellow in Nashville. The main point of the blog was that homelessness is not caused by addictions or alcoholism. Homelessness, it seems, is simply a byproduct of the addiction. I think it’s safe to say that there is always a root cause when it comes to various addictions. I don’t know what my Dad’s root problem was. I only know what I saw growing up. And when we left my father in 1976 to move back to Omaha, we became estranged in a sense. I spoke with over the years, but the relationship was strained at best. Then a strange thing happened. Robin and I had our first child. This kid talked so much, I had to share the wealth! For some reason, I didn’t think it would be fair to Christian if I imposed my relationship baggage on him. I thought it was important for him to know who his Grandpa was. Through that, God blessed me with a new relationship with my Father. Over the course of the next ten years or so, our relationship grew to the point that we not only put the past behind us, we began to look forward to the future. And it was good again. God has a way of doing that.

Today, when we got downtown, there was quite a crowd of people waiting for us. I didn’t make it down last week because of my Dad’s illness and passing and the fact that I was in a car on my way to Alabama.. So when we pulled up today, there was a round of applause, as strange as that may seem. Our friends were welcoming us back. It was pretty humbling. And then, when we were set up and ready to go, I was able to briefly share with them that "it" can happen anytime. I spent all of 2 minutes just explaining that my Dad was gone, but he was "in a better place". He was right with the Big Guy. And for each and every one of them to be there also. Make it right with God. We prayed as we always do, and immediately I hear this - "Good message. That was a good message". It is so simple. And we had not a single issue today. At least nothing to write home about. It just all came off how God would have it, I suppose. I was able to relay a few words about a real life situation and at least some of them got it. It wasn’t a message. It’s life. Life with Christ. And that’s the only way I can make it work anymore.

One last thing. We know a young fellow who just happens to share the same name as my oldest son, Christian. This young man, I believe he’s 10 years old, has begun selling soap. Now that may sound a bit odd, but it’s not so much. The brand name? Starfish Soap. It’s an organic soap that is actually a bit on the expensive side, but its good stuff. He has promised 10% of his profits to this crazy ministry that has become such a big part of our lives. Here’s the kicker though. He recently pitched his soap to a grocery chain here in town. Hy-Vee is a Midwestern chain that is not unlike your normal grocery store. In this case, the manager of our local Hy-Vee has agreed to sell Starfish Soap. I have no idea what this means. I just know that a young man had an idea and God has blessed him with the means to be a part of our ministry in yet another way that continually blows my mind. I simply cannot believe the many different ways that people have contributed to God’s work in that downtown park. I was doing a morning devotional this week and I came across a piece of scripture, Acts 5:12-42. The gist of it was this - The apostles were facing a hearing but they were released after a wise individual argued that they should be let go. If the work they were doing was of their own doing, they would fail. If it was of God, they wouldn’t be able to stop them anyway. I see that happening on this downtown corner. It is clearly not of our doing. It is so clearly God at work. I mean, Starfish Soap? Are you kidding me? What next??!!

It’s been a strange week. 1000 miles to Alabama last Sunday. 1000 miles back on Friday. And the funeral of my Father right smack in the middle. And this morning was a little tough. The emotions come in waves. And then I’m reminded that it’s all part of the gig here. "It" happens. I just hope and pray that our friends get "the message" before "it" happens to them or their loved ones. I pray that God will continue to lead us and that He will continue to supply every single thing that we need to continue His work and that it would all glorify Him and be His doing. Not ours. What an amazing God we serve.

Peace and have a great and blessed week.

…it matters to that one… :)

Well, this week I'm a little late in getting this together. You see, my father left us this week. I was on my way, Saturday, to pick up my sister Patti in Kansas City and we were to make our way to Alabama to help care for my father, who's health was failing pretty quickly. Doctors were saying 6 months, others were saying a month or less. From my phone conversations with him, less seemed more likely. So our trip down to help care form him turned into a trip to plan a funeral. Sadness for sure. Much. So hopefully, this year and for many more, Dad will get the opportunity to grab those primo 50 yard line seats at the Auburn football games of his choosing.

So I didn't get to go downtown to see our friends this week. I did however. get a chance to chat with a few of them. As we were driving through the state of Tennessee, I get a call from Robin. About 12:45 or so. I was hoping for the call. It seems a line of people wanted to offer condolences and that was cool. I was passed around and chatted briefly with several of our friends. Wayne even offered his "consolation". :) Pretty cool. And almost to a person, they all ended with "I love you man". How cool is that? Pretty cool. Friends...

So this week I get to offer, with her permission, a glimpse of what happens on that corner, through the eyes of another...

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Hey Laney Family,

Dave, I'm so sorry to hear your dad passed. What a whirlwind for your whole family, I'm praying all will sort out and wind down fine. Dave, also, I'm always so grateful to have a chance to read your blog, especially on the weeks we don't make it down, it's just good to check in. We missed you today, you have big shoes to fill! We missed Gerri as well, especially when we couldn't locate things like butter for the bread! We missed you both, but I want you to know how great everyone was filling in and stepping up to the plate.

So, I wanted to take a moment and fill you in on my experience today as well as what the family shared with me. We got to the corner right at noon, we brought iced lemonade and some cherry cheesecake squares. Setting up seemed a bit chaotic, not the least because of the bounty of food, but also since taco salad was being served! When Robin was shouting from the corner step to let everyone know what was going on and to lead us in prayer I have to admit I couldn't hear very well so I missed most of what she said. 'Course, I was on the back side and she was facing the line just like she needed to do.

I'm such a bold person in many ways, however, I tend to feel very emotional and shy when I'm down there. I don't know if you know that I was homeless when I was seventeen and my folks moved away to two different states. It was a hard time, however, I came to realize I could only count on God. Over the years I've felt everything from compassion to critical of the homeless… I always cry when we say the Lord's prayer and have to hold on to my Dave, he's my rock. I run a gamut of emotions, different every time.

When it's time to start eating, the line jumps. Some of the folks in wheelchairs came through the line first, so I was helping with cups of lemonade and coffee to get them set up where'd they'd like to be. Often during the cold months when we've been down I've simply helped get a plate of food as the snow and ice prohibits the wheelchairs maneuvering about the park. My Dave was running cups of coffee and lemonade to the back of the line, Josie was helping serve dessert and Alex was manning the lemonade. Eventually an older couple came through the line, the man clearly was in pain. His left arm was in a sling and he had an IV bag and line snaking through his shirt. We got him sat down on the curb, but it was far too difficult for him to attempt eating. So, he got back up and his wife and him and I attempted to juggle their food, juice, coffee, water and sack lunch back to the truck. As we made our way through the park a young man came in and began shouting obscenities and negativities, clearly hoping to start a fight. Oh, boy, I had a moment of wanting to turn back and be with my kids, anything other than walking a block away from them! I know there was a stabbing down here just a few days ago, and I do fear if anyone has a gun, especially when racial slurs and pointing begin (It was our neighbor and local business man's son who shot that girl at the KFC in Florence just a short time ago). As I faltered walking forward I saw Robin approaching the man with her calm, gentle, kind smile. I saw my Dave, no cups in hand, simply hovering to one side a few feet away, and several of the other men who come down to help nearby. Close, ready, but not close enough to intimidate him. I felt instant peace. I just prayed as I walked away from my family. Later, my Dave said when it was happening he stepped close by to assist if Robin needed it, but realized it was probably best that this little tiny woman approach him, rather than any of the men. Alex was annoyed, Josie said one of the girls serving next to her was furious. Seems she's doing community service for punching someone. She told Jo that she isn't a mean person, but when folks start acting stupid she gets mad, and she was MAD! I just walked on with the couple and saw them to their truck. The man was exhausted, he kept forward and as I turned away he quietly said thanks and swung his good arm back behind him to give my hand a squeeze. I got my crying done before getting back to the park.

All was calm when I returned, I stood in the center where all the shouting had taken place just a short time before. Someone said to me, "I think he wants something" and pointed me to a red truck stopped next to some parked cars. I approached and he waved me forward and motioned me to open the door. He had a large box of hats and asked me to take them for the folks in the park. He explained he was deaf, he collected the hats and to bless the people with them. I asked him to join us, but he said no, just to take the hats and give them out. I don't know who he was. I thanked him. I brought the box to stand and wait to tell Robin, but she had a line of folks waiting to talk with her. Another man approached and took the box from me and asked where should he put it? I didn't know, so we set it down and various folks began sorting out the hats, stacking them up.

Back down at the food line I helped again run some coffees and lemonades to the back of the line. Coming back to the serving table I stopped for a moment to chat with a man there. He opened with "I got a job" and from there he showed me a business card for Woodland Voices. We both teared up as he began telling me about his week. Earlier this week we had a good soaking rain storm, nice for us who live in homes and want plants to grow, challenging for those camped on the river. It was so bad he began praying, he's tired, he's frustrated, he's at the end of his rope. 5 minutes later the rain stopped. God had heard him. The next day he had his sleeping bag over a branch to dry, was frustrated trying to sort out his own clothing as he has two pairs of pants and his life fits in his knapsack. He's an ex-marine and refused sugar and cream in the coffee he was sipping. He showed me his fingernails, he doesn't like to look like a hobo, he tries to be presentable. As he was sorting through the mess and mud he saw some people approaching. When the came close enough he said "Welcome to camp!" and introduced himself to these strangers. After talking for awhile the wife decided he needed to come home with them and have a chance to get cleaned up (hot shower and wash and dry his clothes) and have some pork chops for dinner. During the evening the husband asked if he would be willing to assist him in making some flutes for an upcoming show. That's why they'd been walking the woods, looking for some interesting branches. The past few days he's been sleeping on their porch, getting paid a nominal fee per piece work, eating scrumptious meals, discussing and listening well to what plants the wife still needs for her garden and looking to take on more tasks for this flute maker that sounds amazing. Finally Gabe and I introduced ourselves to each other, I'm so blessed to hear his story! Yesterday while at the farmer's market a vendor was having difficulty in the wind and rain getting his awning up, Gabe stepped in to help out and the man asked if he'd like any plants in return for his help. The flute maker's wife was delighted at Gabe's remembering what plants she needed. Last night during the howling wind the wife brought out a blanket to cover Gabe as he slept on the porch. Powerful. It was good to give each other a hug. God is amazing.

There were more children today in line. Even an infant just days old. I was sad to see we still had a pan and a half of cherry cheesecake squares left, seems they didn't go over well. I had a chance to talk with Patricia as she enjoyed her meal, admired the blanket someone gave her so she can cover her legs during the summer and not get sunburned, talked of her maybe moving to Illinois to be with her son and live in a wheelchair accessible home. As she bit into one of the cherry squares she commented how good they were…ah, someone did like them! I was able to snag a few more for her, as suddenly we only had half a pan left. Lemonade emptied, coffee emptied, hodgepodge salads verses the plates piled high with everything continued to be served. Another friend, Tom, who camps on the river asked if we'd like a baby goose. Seems the injured companion goose he's cared for during the winter wasn't a male after all! My Dave collected our things and we drove away from the corner at 1:30.

That was our hour and a half.

So Laney family, thank you, God Bless you and I look forward to seeing you soon!
Kristie

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Peace and have a great and blessed week.

It matters to that one...

See ya soon Dad...I love you more than you'll ever know and I'll miss you. War Eagle!!!

Queued up for Boston?

Spring is finally here! I realize it’s May and we’re on the cusp of summer, but here in Nebraska, we take what we get. Today was a Chamber of Commerce day. A little windy, but here on the plains where you can stand on a Coke can and see for miles, there’s not much to stop the wind. But it was a beautiful, sunny day. And our friends in the park were in good spirits once again. There’s just something that happens on that corner on Sundays. I guess you could say it’s the presence of God. And that is definitely what it is. Has to be. When we get there? The lines are already forming. I’m going to go off on a bit of a tangent here, but these poor folks must spend loads of time every day waiting in lines. Especially to eat. I don’t know how to get around it. And we try to serve it up as fast as we absolutely can, but you can only whip up a Sloppy Joe so fast. I feel for them. I’ve been at the Sienna Francis House Shelter when they were lining up to get a bed for the night. I’ve been at the Open Door Mission when they were doing the same. Lines everywhere they turn. I don’t know the answer. I just know they must spend lots of time in “queues”, as our friend Mandy says.

Anyway, when we get to the corner, folks are already taking their respective places in the serving line. And several of our regulars immediately converge on the back of the trailer to help unload. When we leave, it’s as if we were never there. And it becomes a bit
desolate. But for the couple of hours that God lets us inhabit that corner on Sundays, it just becomes alive with activity. God’s activity. I had the pleasure of meeting a couple folks from Papio Creek Church today. They want to partner with us as much as possible as a mission opportunity. I am blown away by this. The simple fact that they want to help on a regular basis. What a deal! God is so unbelievably faithful in this journey. This couple that showed up today were so great. I got an email from the pastor at Papio Creek yesterday telling us how they wanted to help with clothes, food, people and money resources. Are you kidding me? I pray for those things every single day. The cool thing about this, for me anyway, is that we can spend more time focusing on the important stuff. The eternal stuff and not so much about the physical needs. Not that we’ll give those needs any less attention, but God is so faithful in supplying those needs, it’s almost as if He’s saying He’s got us covered. And of course He does. Maybe at this point, He knows we are in for the duration. Maybe He knew it all along. Was He just waiting to see if we’d stick t out? Was He simply testing our resolve? I don’t know, but He is taking us places I’d only dreamed about.

Today, I met a guy named Tony. Tony is on some kind of journey. Now here’s the deal. I meet someone new almost every single week. And see old faces that I maybe haven’t seen in weeks or months. But it seems like I meet someone new every week. Opportunity. So Tony has a very distinct British accent. He’s in Omaha. Needs to get back to Boston. How does that add up? He meets me at the back of the trailer as we are unloading. Asks if I can multi-task as he tells me of his situation. That’s a tough time for me because there are lots of guys around at that point helping unload and stuff, so it’s tough to get into conversation about bus tickets with that many people around. Before you know it, we’ll be travel agents for the homeless! So I tell him to grab a bite, hang around and we’ll chat when the time is better. He agrees. The thing for me is I don’t want to put him off, but there are a few things to take care of and I want to make sure we get things off and running. So a little later, as I’m talking with someone, I sense Tony in my peripheral vision. Hovering. And I have to tell you, I understand. What must that be like? Here’s a guy who doesn’t look like your normal homeless guy. I know how ridiculous that sounds, but he just doesn’t. He has a need. Needs to get back to a place of familiarity. Is he wasting his time here? So again I tell him to give me time to process it all. But mainly, just give the corner time to settle down and maybe thin out a bit. We can talk about it when there aren’t so many people around. He says the following to me…”are you the guy I need to talk to? Or am I wasting your time?” So again, I tell him to hang tight. We aren’t going anywhere and I assume he isn’t either. I never try to minimize our friend’s situations. Just because a guy might be a little down on his luck, homeless, or whatever, his time should be as important as mine. Which is why the whole waiting in line thing bothers me so much. So, I tell him to hang in there with me.

In the meantime, I sense my friend Eric wants to chat. He watched the Chronicles of Narnia last night. Eric is a guy that I’ve mentioned before. He always waits around and chats with me. Always. So today, he had a lot to say. For about 30 minutes, he recited to me every single story in the Narnia series. All of them. From the Magician’s Nephew all the way to the Last Battle. Without taking a breath! He told me more about that series than I could ever have imagined. I’ll never need to read any of the books. Just before he left, I asked him, in his all time estimation, if this was his favorite series ever. He got the biggest grin and answered in the affirmative. It was obvious. And then I had to almost excuse myself to be able to talk to Tony again. And Tony heard the whole conversation also. It was unbelievable. He knew (and told me) every detail of every book. For 30 minutes. I was worn out. Tony couldn’t believe it. Said the guy was a savant. And was amazed at my patience. Hey, it’s the least I can do. All I had to do was listen. Listen. It was that easy. And Eric hangs around every single week just to chat. Today? He let me have it! But it was good.

So I finally got a chance after most every one had left to sit down and chat with Tony. He’s been here for a few years. But I caught the British accent right away. It was pretty evident. He’s been at the Sienna Francis House for 2 weeks. Somebody told him that we might be able to help him get to Boston. Just call us God’s travel agents. So someone else, just today, hands me a donation for $130.00. Guess how much a ticket from Omaha to Boston is? Funny how that works.

I am, on a weekly basis, blown away by the amazing things that happen in this ministry. I’ve never seen anything like it. Never. At least not up close and personal like this. And we get to do it every week. And we get to pray with and serve people that know exactly where we are coming from, why we are there and Who sends us. What an amazing opportunity! What a God we serve! What a chance to show people every single Sunday that God is alive and well and He sends us every week with His provisions. And He’s an amazing Connector. The way He orchestrates this thing blows my mind weekly!

Next week? Starfish Soaps…I promise.

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
Psalm 37:23, NLT

Peace and have a great and blessed week.

…it matters to that one… :)