He Prayed the Lord's Prayer
J knew what "daily needs" means.
He only took what he needed for today.
Looking up the hallway, I saw him peering into our glass Office Door. He carried a trash sack. J did not think anyone was coming. He could not access the locked door, so he disappeared from my sight. When our staff is in the far part of our building, we lock our door for the safety of our secretary. This happens almost every Wednesday.
“He needs some clothes,” informed our secretary.
We opened the door and called out to the young man. He returned, and we talked about what he needed.
“The Holy Spirit led me here,” he said. “I just need some clothes.”
“Follow me,” I told him.
He stopped and shook hands with every person in our buildings that he encountered, introducing himself. “Hi, I’m J,” he would begin his greeting. We made our way to our Clothess Closet. Thanking me and our church at every corner we turned.
J looked through the racks of clothes for a pair of pants. Most of our jeans and pants were a bit too big for him. I gave him some privacy to change and see what fit best for him. Once I realized he was having trouble finding clothes to fit, I told him to give me some time. I would go and find something that fit better. Before leaving, he asked if he could pray with me.
“Of course,” I replied.
“Our Father, who art in heaven,” he began.
”Give us this day our daily bread,” he continued.
He finished the Lord’s Prayer and then, with emotion, thanked the Father for the reception he had received from those he had met in our building.
I told him I would return shortly. I asked if there was anything else he needed while I was gone. “Could I get a cup of coffee?” he asked. Glenn had just made a pot. I told him, “Sure.” I left him to try on some shirts and told him to return the way he came so that one of our men would see he had a cup of coffee.
Upon my return, I handed him two pairs of pants and a belt. I also found a pair of shoes, though a bit larger than his size, that were better than the flip-flops he was wearing. Laura found him some shorts and some hygiene products.
The Regional Food Bank made their delivery. J helped unload the food and then helped push our food carts to our pantry room. “I helped work for my clothes,” he said. You did not have to work for clothes,” I retorted. I wanted to,” he said. Just so you know, it was not required to receive clothes,” I assured him.
J was ready to go. He handed me a sack Laura had given him. “I want to give these back. I only take what I need for today,” he said. I responded, “Are you sure? You are welcome to this and more.” “Yes, I only take what I need for the day,” he told me.
Who knows what life experiences J has had? Maybe he battles the consequences of countless decisions not made in his own best interest. Or, as with many who express themselves as he did, he navigates life with a mental illness.
What has stayed with me all day is his line,
I only take what I need for today.
If there ever was a grasp of the trust expressed in Jesus’s prayer, “Give us today our daily bread,” J modeled that for all of us today.
He just needed some clothes for today.
Love this.