Pauline

I heard Pauline passed away. I hope she’s gone to the place of “many mansions” where there’s no homeless wandering the streets.

Pauline was a gentle soul who placed her large bulk on a park bench at night to sleep. In the morning, she’d make her way to the Pantry for a hot breakfast cooked up by Big Mike and served by Mennonite young men.

Before serving, these young men sang two songs with Laurence and myself (their houseparents) and with the missionary and his wife. After singing, one of the brothers would read and expound on the Word. Pauline appreciated devotional time.

The pantry program located an apartment for Pauline. Her very own apartment. No more sleeping on the street.

At Christmas, the Mennonites took the train to the Bronx to sing carols for Pauline. The missionary carried a box of groceries and placed it on her table. (This was many years ago.) Pleased Pauline showed her friends, the Mennonites, everything, including the refrigerator. She opened the refrigerator door, saying, “There’s food inside.” That’s the picture I remember: Pauline’s overflowing happiness at having food in her fridge.

The mission staff at Sugar Hill continues to reach out to the homeless community at the Pantry. With the arrival of colder weather we see the homeless hanging out in subway stations and taking up train seats by stretching out to sleep on the benches. They beg on the streets, and I ignore them. However, I’ve been reproved for my holier than thou attitude by the one who didn’t ask for money but instead said, “Will you pray for me?” I reply that I will. As I’m walking away I hear, “My name’s Kenneth. Pray for Kenneth.” It’s been touching to see other church groups reach out with both food and the Gospel in the park near us. I’ve come down into the subway station to see the homeless praying with someone who cared about their soul. (I’ve also seen plenty of beer cans and the body of one who didn’t survive.)

Could the homeless, bearded man pushing a grocery cart of stuff be an angel unaware?

Happy November. May your refrigerator be filled with plenty. Berniece