WAITING IN THE DARKNESS .
It is a cold, wet, wintry night in Hackney. A young woman is standing in a shop doorway, soliciting to feed her addiction to crack cocaine. Her clothes are flimsy and unsuitable for the time of year – a bright pink short skirt, high heeled, shoes and a sleeveless pink top. She has no coat or gloves. She sees two people in navy blue uniforms walking towards her. Thinking that they are police officers coming to move her on, she retreats further inside the shop doorway to avoid being seen. But as they draw nearer, she sees the fluorescent logo on their jackets and caps, announcing that they are STREET PASTORS. She has heard on the street grapevine about these ‘do gooding Christians, from all branches of the church, who walk the streets offering to listen, help and care, but she has never met any of them before, and is very cynical about what good they might be able to do for her. So, when they speak to her, she turns away with a shrug. But they are not put off by this. They introduce themselves by name. ‘ Well, if you really wanna help me, give me some money to get something to eat.’ She hopes that this will soon send them packing. They explain that Street Pastors don’t give out money, but offer to take her to the kebab shop and buy her some food. Then one of them, in a spontaneous gesture of care and concern, takes off her own pink fluffy mittens and says,’ Would you like to have these? You look so cold, and I can put my hands in my coat pockets to keep warm.’ Her gift is accepted and she goes on to ask,’ Is there anything else we can do for you? ‘ This seems to break the ice and the young woman opens up and begins to tell them her story as they walk together to the kebab shop. ‘No one else has ever asked ME what they can do for ME ‘, she says. I heard that story from one of those Street Pastors when he came up to Leeds to deliver part of a training course which I and other volunteers are taking to prepare to be part of a newly established team of Street Pastors in this city. In sharing it with us he told us that within a ONE MILE RADIUS of that shop doorway, there are 25 churches, none of whose members had ever noticed or spoken to that young woman. There are so many people in need, waiting in the darkness, living rough on the streets, or in hiding waiting to have their applications for asylum processed, or their appeals against deportation reviewed.
People waiting in loneliness and despair; waiting for someone to come and help them, and fearing that their needs will be cold –shouldered, passed over or passed by.
In their needs Christ comes to meet us . Not just in Advent or at Christmas, when our conscience is pricked , but every day of the year. May they not wait in vain for us to respond.
If you would like to know more about the Street Pastors movement log on to www.streetpastors.org.uk There may be a team in your area whom you could support with your prayers.
WAITING IN SOLIDARITY AND HOPE.
When Mary found out that she was pregnant and that her cousin , Elizabeth , barren for so long, was also expecting a child in her old age, she went to be with her. In that waiting time , as both women adjusted to the changes which were taking place in their bodies and began to contemplate the weight of responsibility laid on them - to be the mothers of two such special sons , no doubt they shared their hopes and fears in sisterly solidarity . Luke’s Gospel does not fill in these details , but some of his broader brushstrokes hint that this may have been so. WAITING IS NEVER EASY.
Adjusting to unexpected and unavoidable changes in our bodies, our lifestyles , in the world around us , or in other people’s attitudes and responses to our needs , can be a frustrating , lonely and frightening experience.
‘ Please HOLD , we are trying to connect you .’
‘The current waiting time for your operation is 4 –6 months .’
‘Your request for asylum has been denied.’
‘You may be eligible for a grant towards modifications to your bathroom, but you need to know that the whole process takes several months. It is means tested by someone else , so at this stage I can’t tell you how much you will have to pay
These are just some of the disheartening and frustrating experiences of waiting that have been a part of my life and concerns recently. No doubt you have other similar stories to tell. And further afield, outside our own immediate needs and concerns, we know that there are many people who continue to wait with diminishing hope and growing despair, for something to be done to release them from grinding poverty , crippling debt, violence and fighting, famine and untreated disease. Advent is a time for watching and waiting in prayer. A TIME TO REMEMBER God’s proactive and compassionate involvement in our unjust , insensitive , divided and war torn world.
A TIME TO PREPARE OURSELVES TO BE EQUALLY PROACTIVE in showing our concern and compassion too. Whether we are young or old, physically active , or limited by immobility or pain , there is something that each of us can do through written protest , lobbying and through re ordering our lifestyles and priorities , to show our solidarity with the movement for peace, justice , freedom and fair trade throughout the world. Something we can do to show our solidarity with all who wait in hope or despair for things to change .
