The Marine Looking for Work

On a regular basis, all kinds of people knock on Rod's office door at the church. They need food, they need money, they need gas, they need a place to stay, they need a bus ticket. They just need. Some of them make the circuit and come back around to our little town on a regular basis. Their stories aren't so true. Once in awhile, though, there is a true story in the bunch.

This morning the Marine called the church first and asked if there was any work he could do. He already had a bus ticket, but he wanted to make some money before he left on the next leg of his trip. He explained that another pastor in town had already told him no. Three bishops also told him no because he has tattoos. One is the Marine Corp emblem on his shoulder. He was emphatic that he wasn't looking for a handout. He wanted to earn his money. Rod said, "Sure, come over. I can find some yard work for you to do."

Rod has an excellent, shall we say, internal crap detector and he can tell when someone's giving him a story. This young man certainly has a story and it rings true. On leave several years ago he found his wife with another man and their two year old daughter in the bedroom. He attacked the other man and ended up with an assault charge. His military career ended right then and there with a dishonorable discharge. His marriage ended and he hit the road. He's been traveling for several months. This twenty-something veteran is without his home and without his family. His goal is to make it to the Wyoming oil fields. He's trying to get his head together. He's trying to make it right with God; because, he followed orders and killed people in Iraq. He'd never seen a dead person before he went to war. Now they live with him all the time. He struggles to figure out how God can forgive him. He thinks that doing work at churches will help him.

He worked extremely hard in the heat today and he'll be back tomorrow for a couple of more hours. He'll have some money in his pocket when he leaves on the bus headed to Wyoming.

We aren't always so gracious towards and accepting of those in need. Sometimes we're like the bishops who make judgments based on appearance. Sometimes we're like the other pastor in town who didn't have the time or couldn't make the effort. But, sometimes we say, "Sure, I'll hear your story. I'll give your some work. I'll bring you some water in the heat." Sometimes we can bring grace to the burning wounds. We pray tonight, that this young veteran will feel a little more intact, stand a little taller tomorrow, and know that God is here for him and ready to hold his crying heart.