I met her on the street yesterday. Uncharacteristically, I am running a bit behind. She stops me and asks, haltingly, "is this the Presbyterian church?" I tell her it is, but that it is not open just yet; that I am about to go in to give a tour.
She says she needs an I.D. She has an interview for a job at Shoney's at 2:00, and she has to have an I.D. At that moment I have no idea what her need involves. I know the church helps people get I.D.'s, but how exactly, I am not sure. I tell her I will check if the office is open, and hurriedly make my way to the office door. She stands where she is; she does not follow me.
When I see the church is open, I wave to her to come with me. I ask her name. It is Jevon. She says it quickly, all three names, as a child does. She has a terrible keloid scar in the middle of her chest. It looks as though it could have been caused by a burn. It does not look like a precision-cut surgical scar. I wonder what caused it. I will not ask. The voice of my Bible class teacher echoes in my head, so I ask Jevon if she would allow me to pray with her. I do not pray an eloquent prayer, but I do ask God's mercies on Jevon, that the church helps her get her I.D., that she gets the job, and that she is blessed by the job and that Shoney's is blessed by hiring her. We hug, she thanks me, and we go inside
I introduce Jevon to the church secretary, a lovely man named Reggie, and tell him that Jevon is a new friend who needs help getting an I.D. Still, I am unaware of how exactly the church helps. I guess I am thinking they have their own little camera and laminating machine. Come get your illegal I.D. at the Presbyterian church!! Often I surprise myself with my lack of awareness.
Reggie tells Jevon he is sorry, that they only help with I.D.'s on certain days and certain times because that is when the minister is there and he is the only one who can write a check. A check? That is how they help? Jevon said, "I have $6.00, so I only need six more, not the whole twelve." What? Twelve dollars is what she needs for an I.D.?
There I stand with phone, epi pen, water bottle, and debit card, but no cash. I am far from my car where I do have cash, with no time to go back there. All I have to offer in my job is information and punctuality. I know I cannot leave teachers with 100 students and 30 parents standing on the sidewalk waiting for me. Six dollars! Why did I take that twenty dollar bill out of my pocket this morning? I would gladly give it to Jevon.
Reggie and I both apologize. He tells her to try the Methodist church right down the street. It is obvious that Jevon is no stranger to disappointment. As she leaves, I pray that the Methodist church is able to help, and that she gets her job, but I feel a lot like the person who prays, but offers no ready physical help. My prayer is that she encounters someone else who has been divinely appointed to help her in the next step.
I begin my tour with Jevon on my mind hoping that I am a stepping stone in a series of stepping stones that will help Jevon arrive at her desired destination of success. I pray that she will not fail for want of $6.00.
For today, I wish you new people to enter your lives, I wish you opportunities to serve, and I wish you
Blessings
