John, the Preacher Man, led us out into the middle of State Street to see the statues flanking the steps on the West Side of the Capitol building. He told us the statues on the south side of the steps were wicked and corrupt and spoke to the attorneys’ offices on one side of the street, while the statues on the north side of the steps were of a holier character, corresponding to the churches on the other side of the street. He leads us in prayer and later asked me for money, of which I had none.
But I was provoked enough by our impromptu though not free tour to look into the history of the Capitol building a bit more when I got home. Both the statue groups are bright white Carrera marble in the Beaux Arts style sculpted by George Grey Barnard, an artist originally from Bellefonte, northeast of State College, and installed in 1911. The statue group to the south of the steps is entitled “The Burden of Life: The Broken Law”. It depicts a bas relief of Adam and Eve leaving the Garden, a man burdened beneath a heavy weight, a sobbing youth representing despair and another holding his hand, whispering to him, representing hope, and in the midst, an angel of consolation. The statue group to the north flank of the steps is entitled “Love and Labor: The Unbroken Law” which holds a more positive outlook, with depictions of the harvest, young parents and the best, in my opinion, a sculpture of the father and the prodigal son, the son on his knees and the father fully bent over to embrace him.
So, I see these statues a little differently, perhaps. They represent not attorneys and churches to me, but rather Man raised from his broken state by the grace and mercy of the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ, by grace alone through faith alone. What we see and hope to see, in flesh rather than stone, among the people who come to our tables every weekend. Pray for John!
It was cold this morning. We had some clothing, some snacks. Many had come for breakfast at the Cathedral’s refectory and then stocked up for later in the day at our tables. There was a good turnout on both sides. I felt bad because I had not replenished my supply of Subway cards, so when Mr. Ford asked me for a gift card, I could not help him. But many were helped.
It often feels like the loaves and fishes. Lord, how will we feed so many with so little?
But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.
(John 4:32)
Lord, help us lift up our eyes from our scant possessions to the work you have set before us, a white harvest in the eyes of everyone who does not yet know you. I believe there are divine appointments. I traveled almost a day by plane and van to an orphanage in Bodesti, Romania. When I got there, a young woman asked me in English, “So, what can you tell me about this Jesus?” When that question comes, I pray that I am ready to make an answer for the hope within me, no matter how tired from the journey that lead me there.
George and Cinderella have been much on my heart, lately. George suffered a heart attack in June and found himself in the hospital again through much of September. The doctors were asking the family to turn the life support equipment off. But through the grace and mercy of our Lord, he was finally released last week.
His daughter, Annie, came to pick him up. We had come to the hospital bringing him what clothes we could gather, after Cinderella told us he was down to a towel! He was in front of the hospital, fully clothed, in a wheelchair and we just had time to give him a duffel bag of clothes and pray for him. In the nick of time, dear Lord! Please pray for this poor man, coming home.
Left behind, Cinderella is living in George’s car, parked in Allison Hill. She came to church this past Sunday and I took her “home” afterward. The window of the car had fallen down; it was held up by duct tape. The car won’t start. She won’t be able to live in it much longer. But I think, like many on the street, she is reluctant to go into a shelter. She said the Shalom House in Allison Hill had been taken over by Muslims and then closed down, which doesn’t seem to be an accurate account.
I called Help Ministries today, but she must call them. Please pray for Cinderella!
At the invitation and blessing of our wonderful leaders, Wayne and Kim, we gathered around a table together this Saturday to celebrate our fellowship and the love we share as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose body was broken for us, whose blood was poured out for the New Covenant.
Crucified Laid behind the stone You lived to die Rejected and alone Like a rose trampled on the ground You took the fall And thought of me Above all
-By Lenny LeBlanc
And that is the Word on the Street!
~Jeff Mason
For more information, or to learn how to join us in reaching people for Jesus, please email Living Water’s Director of Outreach, Mike Bongo, at mikeb@livingwatercc.com and he will get you plugged in! You will be blessed as you become a blessing to others!