Since the beginning a few weeks ago of the winter semester, I have had the privilege of continuing a mentoring relationship with four university students who are leaders in SoHills' Campus ministry. We meet at 5:30 p.m. on Mondays at one of my favorite hangouts, Peet's/Sharky's Burritos.As the five of us sat around our table the last two Mondays, we've had repeated drive-by encounters with Tyrone, a mentally challenged young man who's spending time in a wheelchair while recovering from a broken foot. Actually, just about everyone in Peet's/Sharky's seems to have had repeated encounters with Tyrone, as he wheeled himself from one table or booth to the next... over and over again.
In the midst of a crowd of mostly university students, Tyrone interrupted conversations, talked too loud, and when his CD player's batteries ran down... he requested rather strongly that someone buy him new batteries. And not once over the course of those two Monday afternoons, which merged into evening dinners with my Susan, did I witness anyone being unkind to Tyrone.
No one told him to get lost, buzz off, or scram. Not a single person mocked him or made fun of him. Sure... a couple of people seemed a little uncomfortable with Tyrone's uninhibited straightforwardness, but no one was mean to him.
We've heard a lot lately about hope. Well, I've spotted hope on display among the tables and booths at Peet's/Sharky's. I've witnessed kindness poured generously into the life of one of the "least of these." I've seen Jesus in the flesh at a place that serves coffee and burritos... and Tyrone has seen Jesus there, too.
