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Reflections on Denver
By Pauline Stevens
In the 20,500 nights (plus a few!!!!) I have been alive I have always had a bed to sleep in. Some have been in strange places but I have always had a bed and a pillow. In Denver I met a lot of people who could not say that – and, in 7 days, their experience changed me.
To go and spend a week with Bex in Denver is an EXTREMELY changing time. Highs and lows, opulence and poverty, happiness and sadness, cleanliness and dirt. We met young people who sleep on the streets, wash their clothes whilst hanging out at the local library, eat where they can – often in church buildings ,and have very little – other than the clothes they stand up in, and rats that they care for and love. I will never forget seeing someone reaching down their jumper to pull a rat from their armpit, then for someone else to put it in her mouth and let it clean her teeth. We met young people who have searching hearts. We met people who are mixed up – sometimes because people my age have let them down.
We met people who love and serve in amazing ways. People who give up their own comfort and don’t take it personally when they are shouted at, abused and pushed away. They just keep loving. And it is making a difference. Serving is ‘normal’ to them – to whoever needs them. We met people who have an amazing future because God is at work. If you are a regular reader of this blog you will have met JC – he is a man with huge potential. Others have great artistic ability and are showing their faith through art. So what happened to my life after a week in Denver? I am not afraid to talk to homeless people. They are not to be feared. I am comfortable sitting beside a homeless person just ‘chatting’ – praying for the opportunity to talk about Jesus. I have a renewed heart to see homeless people cared for. |
