Lord in Your Mercy

Lord in your mercy

“Hey Pete! What’s the Word for the day?” I cannot remember how this tradition started. But it is a favorite part of my mornings at Manna House.

A guest will come up to me and ask for the “Word for the day.” I take out my pocket sized New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs and share a short scripture reading.

Most of the time I just open up the Bible and read whatever presents itself. Sometimes I will share a passage I have come across in my own prayer time. On occasion, I will pick a passage that seems appropriate to an issue affecting Manna House guests.

The guests who ask for the “Word for the day” and those around in hearing distance bring to their listening a careful and prayerful reverence. Heads slightly bow down, eyes show concentration, and when the reading is over some say “Amen” or simply shake their heads in agreement.

Some days the sharing of the “Word for the day” leads to a brief Bible study in which we reflect on what the passage means for us; other days we just share the scripture and continue on without discussion.

            Today’s “Word for the day” presented itself as I opened my Bible. Maybe the Holy Spirit had something to do with the selection. There certainly was a strong breeze blowing through the trees. I don’t read Jude very often. It is such a short book that it doesn’t even have chapters. I noted this lack of chapters, as most guests want to know chapter and verse, and a few will write those down for further study.

“But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are wavering” Jude 20-22

“I like that last part, ‘have mercy on some who are wavering.’ I need to remember that today. Lots of shaky people out here wavering. We all need mercy.”

“Faith is a gift and a work. What a gift! God is good.”

“All real prayer is in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives us the words.”

“Gotta keep loving, even when I don’t wanna.”

“Can’t save myself. Gonna lean into God. Lord have mercy.”

“This is a hard life. I hope for mercy when I waver and hope I can share that mercy with others.”

I try to remember what guests say and write it down when I step away. They have a strong faith, a holy faith, tried and tested through many struggles, and I learn much them. When I waver, I remember the mercy the guests of Manna House so faithfully offer to each other and to us. And I remember the mercy of God that runs through those mercies, sustaining us in mercy. Who doesn’t waver in life? Who can live without needing mercy?

We prayed at the opening of the day for a volunteer who just had surgery for breast cancer. A few guests fell asleep in the chairs in the backyard. One guest hurried off to a job interview. Another was back after being gone for the last six months. He told me he had lost fifty pounds. I asked him how he did it and how I might lose some weight. He told me, “Put one foot in front of the other and keep going.” Kirk did haircuts and there was plenty of barbershop banter. Coffee was served. Showers and “socks and hygiene” were offered. Guests were patient (for the most part) as they waited for their names to be called. We all enjoyed the cooler weather, the wind, and a cloudy sky.

At the end of the morning we finally got to the bottom of a rumor about a guest who had fallen and broken his back. Kathleen and I went to the Med/Region One. Lord in your mercy.