Lindsay and I lead a bible study on Tuesdays. This week, two women came. The first, a gentle, tiny, bird-like woman, is a unique soul. She is an intercessor - praying for peace and an end to violence in her neighborhood. She always wears a single color from head to toe. You can see her coming a block away....a splash of purple or grass-green. Yellow knit cap covering her head and a yellow jacket, jogging pants, and tennies. Every day a different combination!
The second woman is C. She is a poet. Big chunks of memorized scripture sometimes pour out of her. She dreams of having a garden where "anyone can come.....anyone is welcome."
Tuesday was a day for gifts. Some BJM woman had received a prophetic word and image for C. Holy spirit nudged Lindsay and myself to buy a bouquet of brightly-colored flowers for our "bird-like" friend. It was special to find a bouquet with bright yellow mums and, hidden underneath the yellow petals were three pink roses. You had to hunt to find them...but there they were....beautiful roses in mid-bloom. Like our friend - you have to hunt to find her in the midst of all the noisy people clamoring for attention. But when you do - what a sweet surprise.
She loved her flowers. Smiled her shy, beautiful smile. Laughed when I commented how she was like the hidden roses. Hugs and smiles all around!
On the way home, she met a friend. He was weeping and distraught. He had just received the news of the death of a close loved one. In a neighborhood where people often come from fractured, alienated families, those close relationships are especially precious.
Our friend listened to his sadness. Her heart was touched. And, she gave her bouquet of beautiful flowers to him.
Such generosity! I wonder when she last received flowers When she last felt singled out for something special? And yet, this beautiful hidden rose simply gave her bouquet to a friend. She defied the spiritual atmosphere of the Tenderloin that says "keep what you have....there will never be enough." she released generosity. Flinging it into the face of lies and fear. Smiling her shy, gentle smile the whole time!
I am honored to know her.
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