So I got a tattoo. I got my first one on my ankle like
10 years ago, and the one on my back 7 or so.
I somehow managed to get 2 without really ever
getting one. I mean small, outline, no color.
The one on my ankle was of symbols based in
astrology and since becoming a Christian I hated
having to explain it because it's just dumb. So I
covered it up on Thursday. I got an ancient Christian
solider symbol called the labarum.
Anyway so on Friday I'm dealing with the pain,
and the remorse of scaring my body and the
disappointment of it being exactly what I asked for,
and I meet Demetri.
I mean I met him on Monday at church. I noticed
him on the very first Sunday. My first impression
pretty much sums it up... I thought well either
he's crazy and homeless or he's an artist. He
had paint all over his pants and like 4 layers of
fleece. His hair is shoulder length and brown
with big curls. He's tall and slender. The wrinkles
around his eyes show not age, but experience.
He just stands out. He's very friendly and positive
and that can mean meds or Jesus.
Monday at church he was cleaning up around the
area I had been sitting, and he asked if the cups
and things were trash. I said yes and before
I left he had told me he saw a quality person in
me and I had invited him to my birthday party
for the next night.
He came, as did 2 other people from the church
(and all of my friends and family from this area),
and it was interesting. I have never felt less
of a presence from someone and noticed them
more.
He asked if I wanted to hang out and said he'd
like to be friends and I said we were friends and
sure, give me a call. The other 2 people there
from the church are pastors and were glad
to see him, so I thought how great, these people
take care of their crazy homeless. They get it
too. I had realized by then that he is
homeless because when he came in the door he
was wearing a backpack with a tarp and bed
roll attached. I still wondered about the crazy
part, but was glad to bless him with warmth and
company and good beer.
Now let me say here that I am not afraid nor put
off by nor sit in judgment of 'crazy.' I use it to
mean emotionally or chemicaly unstabel and
know that there are a host of reasons a person
becomes that. I consider all people worthy of
love and respect and my brothers and sisters
I am commaded to bless.
That being said, I was soon to find out that
Demetri is in no way 'crazy,' in fact quite
the opposite. He's the most sane breath of
fresh air I have ever met.
He called me yesterday, during my convalessing
due to the tattoo trauma, and came over. I
swear to you if I have my way I will write it
all down, all of the things he told me, and it
will either be a movie or a really good story to
read. His family history is the American
immigrant story and his story is so wild
it made me feel excited and confused and
challenged. I can still hardly believe all of the
things and places and faces he has seen.
My head swims right now trying to even
remeber all that he said.
I realized at some point that he is the male
version of me in so many ways. We are both 37.
Born in 1970. We speak truth and love and realize
it's God that inspires us to do so. We love travel
and praise and people. We both usually eat later
in the day and love to walk and run. We have
strong family ties, we have family in California and
his sister, like mine, lives here in Tacoma. He likes
good beer. It has been 7 years exactly since
either of us have had a relationship, but even in all
of the similarity I also realized that he is so far
beyond me. I honestly felt that following him
through Starbucks I was walking behind a rabbi.
People want him to see them. They gaze at him
like he is glowing. They listen while he talks and
he never fails to mention Christ. With a kindness
that makes people want to admit they are
Christians too. He says amen all the time and
not in a way that draws attention to himself. I
can not explain what I saw. I can tell you that it
was like being in someone's presence. God's.
He hung out with me the rest of the afternoon
and then into the evening with Jen and
Stella and by 10 o'clock when we dropped him
off I was exhausted and irritated. He had
disrupted by comfort and my new found
plans with his wild tales of adventure
and travel and love and people. He has thrown
a wrench into my feeling of security and
controll. He has held a mirror up to me and
shown me what is possible.
I went to bed with my tattoo throbbing and
my heart heavy. His stories made my spirit
feel airborne. A sense of soaring and freedom
I have never felt surrounded me when he
talked. Lying there in bed my plans for the
future made me feel fat and content.
This morning I realize how fascinating this all
is and how blow me away God is and I have
no idea what will happen next.
I came here with decisions to make and I
made them without all of the info.
This new piece causes me to pause and
consider further. (Argh!!!)
I'm scared.
Pray that God will protect my heart and mind
and that only the doors He opens will I go
through.
I am at a crossroads and God and Demetri
and I all know it. God has interupted me.
Like Scott Bowen taught me to, I told Him
He could.