Emerging Conservative

Al

I typed this up for our church website and it got me to remembering how special this man is to me. I know it’s been awhile since I typed on here so please bear with me……

Al

If you don’t mind, I’d like to give a testimony but it is not mine. It is one I was able to witness and was blessed by but it was not mine.

About three years ago, we moved our church into downtown Marion at Main Street and Center Street. The building we were in also housed several small, low income apartments. I remember how excited I was to be down there since we wanted to be able to make a difference in people’s lives that needed more than just words. I couldn’t wait to make new friends and see what challenges and relationships came our way. At first, I was worried that maybe things weren’t going well. We got down there in January and tried hosting all kinds of events (movie night, breakfast, ect) but no one seemed to care or open up.

However, with the return of the warm weather brought a whole new environment down at our little church. A lot of people had extra times on their hands and, after a season of being stuck in a one room apartment, where thrilled to be able to hang out on the benches and alleys of the outdoors. That’s when our neighborhood came alive. I had a lot of new friends and people new friends were literal walking in the front doors throughout the week just looking for a friendly face.

Yet, there was one older man I would see often who seemed to want nothing to do with me. I would wave, say hello, go out of my way to walk by and give a smile and yet….nothing. However, on one afternoon, on my way across the street to Rite Aid (in a slight hurry I might add), I spotted this man sitting close by and tried one more time with a hello. His face lit up, stood up, came over to me and started a conversation with me. Now, a few things stood out quickly about this man once the shock that he was talking to me wore off……he had a tough time hearing, had a tough time talking where you could understand him, and maybe, just maybe, he had a couple beers in him. As we talked for about 15 minutes, we floated from topic to topic and yet one jumped out……when he heard I was headed to Rite Aid, he shared his frustration that he went there to get oatmeal and was blown away at how expensive he felt the oatmeal was so he left. Well, not a big move but while I was getting my things at Rite Aid, I just grabbed up a variety pack of oatmeal. As I walked back to my office, I passed Al, gave him a smile, and threw him the box of oatmeal. He said “You didn’t have to do that.” I said “I know I didn’t have to, just wanted to.” His name was Al and it was the best couple bucks I ever spent.

For the next 10 months, Al became one of our best friends and a fixture in our church family. If the church was open, he was there. He became a grandparent of our little ones and a father for us older ones. He may fall asleep during most of my messages and had a bladder that almost always kicked in half way through the service but even these events added to his charm. He kicked the booze and struggles with his cigarettes. Even though he had hardly any money…he would help others who were also in need….unless if they drank. He was tell them they needed to put the booze aside or he couldn’t help them financially. A couple nights, being in the middle of the Popcorn festival, we were having concerts and handing out some postcards on the sidewalk of an upcoming event. Al was out there the whole night, handing people the flyer with a slight smile and a tip of his cap. When everyone else was done, locking the door, and heading home to sleep, Al was still gearing to go. He became our janitor and took great pride in his work and contribution to the church. Al, quite simply, was a great man and my friend.

With all Al offered to those around him, he had a tough life and rocky relationships with some of his family here. Though he was victorious over the bottle and pulled back on the cigarettes, it was too late….illness affected his life. He was in and out of the hospital often yet continued to hold a positive outlook.

After these 10 months, Al began talking about going home to Florida. “I’m going next month.” He would say every month for about three months. Since it kept coming up, I asked him why he wanted to go to Florida. What is there for you? I found out that he had a lot of family there who were missing him. He had a nephew who would let Al live with him; a sister who wanted to care for him; the church he was saved and baptized at that missed him; and he just missed home. Al was trying each month to get a bus ticket home but each month his check would come in 2 days after rent was due so he would have to pay rent and not be able to get a bus ticket so it was keeping him in Ohio.  At the time we had this talk; Al was in the hospital again. I asked the hospital Chaplin (who can find out information I cannot under the privacy act), if he could find out if things were bad. I knew they were talking to Al but he wouldn’t pay a lot of attention to them. All the Chaplin could tell me was “Yes, things are bad”.

We’re not a big church but we have people with heart. In 24 hours, I had a talk with the landlord who said he would let Al stay a couple days for free to make rent not be an issue. With a concern about Al being in bad health and on a bus for a day and a half, with transfers when he could not read well or communicate well, we toke a collection of the church and bought a plane ticket to fly Al home. We coordinated with his family in Florida to make sure they were ready for him and could pick him up. It all fell into place. The only thing left was to say goodbye to our friend. His goodbye party at the church was full of fun and tearful goodbyes.

It was a weekday morning when I picked up Al about 4am to head down to the Columbus airport. A couple of his buddies got up early to see him off and we loaded up his suitcase which held all he owned. We chatted on the way down but more often than not, Al looked out into the darkness as he prepared to take his second plane trip in his life. We checked his baggage, went through security and they let me wait with him as we waited for his plane to board. Al was quieter than ever.

When they started boarding, Al got in line and looked straight ahead. I almost wondered if I would get in yet another goodbye. Without looking back, he said “Thank you for all you guys have done for me. You didn’t have to do it.” This time my answer was “Al, you have done more for me than we’d ever be able to repay. With tears in our eyes, Al walked forward and shortly out of sight.

Al enjoyed a few months in Florida with an extensive family and great group of friends before his illness took him to his real home in Heaven. It was an emotional time and I miss him. The family was so great to us to keep me in the loop and let us know how things went. They were wonderful to communicate with as they had his funeral down there and we had a memorial service up here. In less than a year, Al went from a hidden man who a man of integrity who had a vast amount of friends, family, and an encouragement to never lose sight of what matters.

One of the greatest gifts I have received from God is concerning Al’s last night before passing away.  You see it was a Monday morning when his sister came to the hospital to visit Al. He looked peaceful but she felt he was confused. He was telling her that Pastor Tom came and visited him last night and what a wonderful chat we had. She tried to correct him but he became instant to the point that she let it drop. Then he asked her to turn the lights off because they were too bright. The problem was, the lights were off and the blinds drawn. She tried to tell him that it was dark in the room but again, he started getting upset and fighting her on this until it clicked and she realized the light he was seeing were not of this world. “Don’t worry, Al….”she said comforting him “those lights are God calling you home. It’s OK.” He became peaceful again and within 5 minutes, Al had gone home to be with the Lord.”

I don’t know if Al thinking I was there that last night was an angel or random firings of a mind that was beginning to shut down. I don’t know what method God used to bring me into one last talk with my friend but I know this….it was a special gift for me that I cannot think of without tearing up. I only pray it was the comfort to my friend that it appears it was.

So that’s it…..Al’s testimony. It is my hope that I never forget telling it so that he is never forgotten. Someday, I’ll go home and see my friend there. And as I believe that anyone who accepts Jesus as Leader and Forgiver in their lives by believing in their heart and acknowledging Him with their mouths will someday be in Heaven as well……..then I hope and pray I get the honor of introducing you to Al someday as well. See you soon, brother………