I Was Thirsty and You Gave Me Drink

Paul Jeffrey, Color photograph.

“A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief” from the album Sunday Afternoon at Joshua Creek. Composed by James Montgomery (lyrics)and Rev. George Coles (music). Performed by the Joshua Creek Band.

Poetry:

“Business”
by Naomi Shihab Nye

“Syrian refugees go about their business in a refugee camp in Mafraq,

Jordan…”

Ropes on poles, jeans & shirts flapping in wind.
He sits on a giant bag of rice, head in hands.

Too much or too little, rips & bursts & furrows.
Something seared in a pan.

If you knew a mother, any mother, you would care
for mothers, yes? No.

What it is to be lonesome for stacked papers
on a desk, under glass globe,

brass vase with standing pencils,
new orders.

How quickly urgencies of doing disappear.
And where is the child from the next apartment,

whose crying kept him awake
these last terrible months?

Where do you file this unknowing?

I WAS THIRSTY AND YOU GAVE ME DRINK

Matthew 25 is a parable describing the Judgment Seat of Christ after His glorious second coming. The first judgment is when the good Shepherd separates the righteous sheep from the cursed goats. The royal King addresses the sheep first by the announcement of their great reward, this is the second judgment given by King Jesus. The sheep are called “blessed of my Father” and are invited to inherit the eternal kingdom prepared for them before the foundation of the world. This blessing is a direct result of what the sheep did for the King. Jesus recounts six ways the sheep served him by serving “the least of these.” These simple deeds of kindness may surprise most because they are humble acts that would often go unnoticed in the world’s eyes, but they are of utmost value to the recipient. Matthew 10:24 reiterates the idea that when we help these “little ones,” a reference to Jesus’ young or vulnerable disciples in the faith, we will be rewarded, even if it is just providing them a cold cup of water. The third and final judgment is given to the accursed goats who refused to help the oppressed. The Bible says, “How can the love of God abide in us if we have material possessions and do not show compassion for those in need? Our love should be shown through actions and not just idle words, or even worse, turning a blind eye or having deaf ears.

This concept of having deaf ears is seen in the poem written by Nye, “Business.” The writer describes the cold, apathetic person ticking off their “to do” list with their sharp pencils and stacks of paper on their desk, while their deaf ears ignore the cries of the child next door until there are no more. The poem ends, “Where do you file this unknowing?” Do we just sort it away and pretend it never happened? May it never be! James teaches us that faith without works is dead. We are not saved by our works, but it is the evidence of a life transformed, deeply rooted in Christ and living by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As a high-schooler I was able to witness a love that compelled my parents to action by caring for a homeless couple that sought shelter near their pet store. At first, they gave a cup of coffee to warm the strangers and then a doughnut to fill their empty stomachs. As the relationship grew, so did the trust between my parents, myself, and this destitute couple. It was quickly learned that this man, Stanford, was a veteran of war who returned with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and he did not know where to get assistance for his mental illness. My mom helped him get a P.O. Box so he could get financial support. His girlfriend Bridgette, had been raped, abused, and had several children taken from her and placed into the system. She had a mental disorder called paranoid schizophrenia. I recall she barely spoke and lived as though she was in her own safe world escaping the painful elements of her reality. Bridgette was invited to our home to live with us for several weeks while my mom tried to find her help. Stanford soon allowed me to shave his matted hair and wash his head and then he asked if I could also look at his feet. I removed his shoes and socks to uncover to my shock and disbelief, purulent, foul smelling and festering ulcers and wounds. I took him to a local hospital for treatment. My mom and dad, partnering with our home church, provided two weeks in a hotel so he could rest and heal. This experience has been deeply ingrained in my mind and I know the Lord was preparing me for the future. I became a nurse who would bandage wounds in a Burn ICU as an extension of God’s compassion and mercy. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance...” The focus here is that we are created “to do” because love is demonstrative.

Love in action is demonstrated in the beautiful hymn, “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief.” This lone, foot-sore traveler is poor and filled with grief. The nomad pleads for relief from his suffering with such humility that I dare not ask his name, but there is something familiar about him that makes me love him. In the end, I realize by the piercings in his hands, the face of the lonely traveler is my Savior. “Of me thou hast not been ashamed. These deeds shall thy memorial be; Fear not, thou didst them unto me.” In each circumstance he has proven that another’s needs are more important than his own, even to the sacrificing of his life and reputation. In serving others, we become more Christ-like and more fit for His Kingdom.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Abba Father, you alone are worthy of all praise, glory, and honor. Your Word says in Rev. 22:12, “Look I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.” You do not come to punish the righteous because our sins are forgiven and cleansed by Your blood, but You will divvy out Your rewards accordingly. Give us ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to understand. May we look for opportunities to serve and love others as you have loved us. As we cling tightly to You and abide in Your goodness, may the overflow of our hearts be pleasing to You, bring blessing to Your children and be a witness to the world of Your great sacrificial love for all mankind. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray.
Amen.

Tammy Henderson, M.S.N., R.N.
Former Assistant Professor of Nursing and Alumna
Biola University