Living a Life of Grace and Mercy
I have always had an interest in photography and thanks to a gift from a friend a year or so ago I have taken it on as a serious hobby. Working in downtown Atlanta gives me a lot of interesting areas to photograph. I often venture out with my camera on my lunch break. This past Tuesday was one of those days. I walked a couple blocks to the music venue the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was originally a church called the Broughton Tabernacle also known as the Baptist Tabernacle built in 1910 and was used as a church until the mid-eighties. My mom and a couple of my aunts were baptized there. As I was taking some detail shots, I was approached by a homeless man named Eric. He started telling me about the building until he realized I was a local. Eric then moved into his spiel. For whatever reason there seemed to be a connection.
Eric took a seat on one of the steps and I leaned back against a hand rail to listen to his story. He came to Atlanta about a year and a half ago from South Carolina after his wife and daughter were killed in a car accident. He said there were just too many memories back in SC. Supposedly he was working with a local pastor here in Atlanta to get into some sort of program but had to pay some money upfront. I asked him several questions to get to know him better. We probably talked for over fifteen minutes or so.
Although it is not my normal practice, I reached in my wallet and gave him ten dollars. I then asked if I could pray with him. He agreed so I prayed that he would be engulfed with the grace and peace of God and with the wisdom and revelation so he might know God better. I then prayed he would have favor in his health and to find his way off the streets. He seemed grateful. I asked if I could take his picture and he agreed.
It is possible Eric’s story was a lie. It is also possible he could use the ten dollars to buy drugs or alcohol. However, I realize that Jesus showed me grace and mercy when he forgave me of my sins without asking anything in return. He forgives my sins knowing I will sin again. He forgives my sins even when I take advantage of his grace by willingly sinning knowing he will forgive me. As a disciple of Jesus I am called to live a life like his. A life where I too show grace and mercy to strangers.
No my measly ten bucks is not a huge show of grace and mercy. Even If I gave my own life for Eric it would still pale in comparison to what Jesus has done for us. However, I am called to live a life of grace and mercy and sometimes I will show it in small ways. The ten dollars helped open the door so I could pray with him. I believe that prayer will be more effective in his life than money. I will continue to pray for Eric and I will look for him whenever I am out and about downtown. I hope and pray he finds his way soon.
Once again on those steps the Tabernacle took on the role it was originally created for. A place of grace and mercy.
I knelt down on one knee to get on Eric’s level to take his picture. Then we shook hands and went our separate ways. I made a few more shots before heading back to work. Even though I made eye contact with Eric while we were talking I did not see how piercing his eyes were until I edited the photo.
I am not sure if my encounter with Eric was a life changing event but I am confident the Holy Spirit is at work in his life and on that Tuesday afternoon he allowed me to play a small part of his work in Eric’s life.
I pray I can continue to live a life of grace and mercy.
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