. I wonder how God is feeling up there when he sees our mess.

The Great Theologians

I remember attending Liberty University online, and being shocked.  Shocked at the narrow-mindness of the professors in this need era. I STOPPED MY LIFETIME DREAM OF A PHD IN THEOLOGY BECAUSE OF RACISM BY CHRISTIAN ELITES.  

The great people.  The theologians.  The Pharisees, the Sadducees, etc.  That was in Jesus' time. 

So the focus is History, but the application is for today. 

She said, “You know what keeps me up at night ………… you know why I cannot sleep ……… it is because of you guys  …….. I am not even dead and you are fighting”.  This is what my mom said. 

Since the death of her sisters, she embarked on a quest to amend the relations with her siblings.  She is now calling her sisters and brothers and those in Puerto Rico.  She schedules surprise dinners and things of that nature.  She makes amends. She is angry because of her children, that includes me.

Elijah came to see me.  He was a Muslim with a mission.  He is of those terms “with the heart of God”.  Most would say of the wrong religion. 

Then, you have the Methodist up the block.  They provide the best food pantry in the area.  They have a monthly dinner for the community.  You have Wendell Baptist, the great ramp makers and house builders.  You have the Catholics, as in Catholic Charities with their food program.  You have With Love from Jesus doing the same.  The best one around is community helpers thus far. 

Different religions, and, in the midst people with the Love of God and a Heart of God.  But, there is the fighting.  I am Baptist, I am Methodist, I am Muslim.  Sounds like to me what was happening in the Jesus times, The Pharisees, The Sadducees, etc. 

She lives a hop and a skip from Hephzibah Baptist.  She said, “you keep on doing what you are doing  ……… it is the right thing to do  ….. [asking for a handicapped button to the entrance of the church]”.  I saw one service on tv, she said.  I do not know how to work the thing.  Meanwhile, she is yards from the church and no once can go over there on Sunday and get the TV to work to see the services. 

The fight opened the opportunity to see.  Fighting over the denied food stamps, again, in error.  Then, I looked into the community. I found who was helping in the community [while most churches would just refer you to social services].

Her sadness was profound when she was informed there is no more food pantry at HBC.  She had tried.  She tried to “feed them in the past” and “no one showed up”.  She was deeply sad. 

So we went one recent Sunday morning, and no program there given.  In the History of HBC, Mary Lou White always had a program to give you once you entered.  The elderly do not have or want to be on an email list.  They want a program.  And, supposing I am a visitor, what makes you think I want to give you my email address. 

I remember visiting churches and when I had nothing to do, would turn to the program tossed on the desk.  I would them follow up and visit or attend an activity.  But, that is not even possible for visitors of the elderly.  She was sad beyond belief. 

We talked about the glory NY days.  The four pews in front of the church dedicated to the mothers and the elderly of the church.  Not here in NC. 

The young had mentors and the elders to talk with.  Not here in NC.

So, she cannot come to church, why not then have her answer an HBC prayer and counseling line. 

She has not been to church for a year and a half.  I asked why.  Why?  It was the Sharlita Wilkins answer. 

The years before coming to NC, I purchased a van, with a hydraulic lift, for Sharlita Wilkins.  Sharlita could transfer from a wheelchair to a car seat, but it was hard.  Hard because she was not stable. 

So, one day she fell.  Not too bad.  But, that is when I decided to get a wheelchair van.  It was for her.  I took her places.  We went all over. 

Imagine, an elderly person, with a bad back, lifting another elderly person, with brittle bone syndrome.  Imagine all the liability for all involved.  

She said, “it is just hard work”.  I got people to take me to church.  I got several offers.  All this she said.  But, she said, “they do not understand …… it is hard work being lifted  …….. on leg in the car …. And then the next ….. “ .  She echoed what I knew Sharlita faced and felt. The van made the difference then. 

I asked her, what about if the church had a van that would allow you to stay in your wheelchair.  She, in an excited and jubilant manner said, “That would be great”.  I would go.  We also talked about getting a scooter, since she is so close to the church and Robinwood, and McDonald, she can scooter to church.  She lite up like a Christmas tree. 

So, the young people, church members, society overall, repeat the same errors, because the elderly are not there to counsel them.  Once they cannot get to church on their own, it is over and done. 

You never get to see the glory, if you do not start to help.  The glory is the special times and being in His will.  It is getting them to church. 

One of the places the church absolutely needs to be is the nursing homes, etc.  You know it is just a question of time for them to cross that bridge.  But, the least presences of the church is there at; and even more horrific is the lack of vans in churches with wheelchair equipment [this and the prisons, hum]. 

Way back when, it was hard to come across a van with a wheel chair lift.  Now, you can find them at just about any state auction.  Before, the cost of handicapped modifications was off the wall and not financially reachable.  Now you can modify just about anything. 

He said, “I will donate the lift I have” to that church for Mary Lou.  They just have to guarantee they will use it for her and not for private gain.  My stepdad was a van driver for the disabled.  That is what he did and he has a lift from one of those vans. 

The application in all this is we just do not talk to each other and call ourselves all children of God.  My family does the same and is engaged in a feud.  Jesus, he did just about everything in the field and not in the churches.  The reason being is the churches refused to go out and help.  We have the same scenario. 

We talked about Elevation Baptist church and the ministry they had.  I told her in 2001, I would go there and see all the vans on Sunday wheeling in the elderly and the disabled.  She said, “I wish I could have been there  …… it sounds glorious and a blessing.”

She said, I have been in Wendell all my life. I worked at First Citizens and retired.  I was the church secretary at HBC.  But, I never visited Wendell Baptist.  We talked about the one step to the elevator, she said “Goosh”. 

Churches, outcasts, that help, while others do not.  Most do not help or talk to each other, but, we are all called of God. 

So my mom takes her pills to sleep because of us.  We keep fighting and not talking to each other.  I wonder how God is feeling up there when he sees our mess.