EDITOR'S NOTE: In October 2021 I began a new venture writing a newspaper column titled "Finding Faith" for the Forum Communications Co. network of newspapers and websites. I was asked to contribute to the company's ongoing conversation about faith, lending a Lutheran and fairly ecumenical approach to the discussion. The column was published in several of the company's papers and websites, including The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. This column originally appeared as a "Finding Faith" column on Jan. 12, 2024.
By The Rev. Devlyn Brooks
“Sir, can you spare a quarter?” asked the man in the parking lot outside my newspaper building as I was leaving work the other night.
I didn’t hear him at first because of my poor hearing, but after I inquired, it was clear.
“Do you have a quarter? Any change you can spare?” he said behind his kind but downcast eyes, avoiding eye contact. “I’m not one to beg, but anything to get something to eat would help.”
I assured the gentleman that I had some change in my truck, and apologized that I didn’t have something more to offer him. I mean, who carries cash nowadays, right?
As I got my truck door opened and reached into the “change dish” on my dash, the quiet and gentle man behind continued his string of apologies for interrupting me and for having to ask for money, sadness and shame coloring his words.
“No need to apologize, sir. You can have everything I have in my truck,” I said, doing my best to comfort him and let Jesus’ light shine through. “I’m just sorry I don’t have something more.”
“You know, I used to work in that building … the newspaper,” he said, with a nod over his shoulder and with a glimmer of pride, in recognition of the building from where I’d just come.
I couldn’t help it, but “There, but for the grace of God, go I,” immediately popped into my head.
I handed the man my woefully insufficient handful of change that was in my truck. Not much more than a couple of bucks. And I asked if he had a place to get out of the cold and to stay for the night.
Assuring me that he would be fine, he bid me adieu with a grateful, “God bless you.”
“You already have,” I thought to myself.
After I got in my pickup and let it idle to warm up -- after all, it was only 9 degrees out -- I watched the gentleman walk out of the parking lot, and I wondered where he would end up that night.
I wondered why it’s so difficult for us to be humane to others, as some of our city leaders as of late have aggressively pushed to oust any sign of unhoused people from our downtown. Too much of a blight, they say!
And lastly, as I saw the last glimpse of him turning a corner, I wondered in this season of Epiphany if maybe I hadn’t just experienced my very own manifestation of Christ in real life?
After all, it’s not written anywhere that Jesus will be coming back as a sandy brown haired, blue eyed man with Nordic features who’s dressed in flowing white robes, now is it? … Amen.
Devlyn Brooks is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and serves Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. He also works for Forum Communications Co. He can be reached at devlynbrooks@gmail.com for comments and story ideas.
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