Into The Night

The humidity of the night was like a blanket covering every inch of your soul. Sweltering. Even though the stinging heat of the sun was gone, the traces of the day were everywhere. And the sweat poured. The most recent moments of our journey had been encompassed with settling in under the tower that helped provide power to the city of New Orleans. A tall one it was. High above our heads. The team had set out what seemingly small amounts of supplies we had under the big tower on a concrete slab. It was not the normal way we liked to do things, but given the situation and circumstances before us, it would have to work. A line formed. Each person carrying what little they could in their hands and holding onto their just handed out plate of food lined up to hopefully acquire some of the things we had brought. Socks. Hygiene kits. Bibles. Snack Packs. Simple, but appreciated.

Flashback to 2005. In the days before Hurricane Katrina this is where we stood. Time after time we went to the wall. The wall is not a *place* per se. It is an actual levy that borders near the Mississippi River. Gravel, broken glass, flattened boxes, sand. It was all there. So were the people. The opportunities afforded us next to that wall are ones that will be burned into our souls forever. Ministry. Relationships. It was all happening right there in their territory. Home for the night for some. Then, the unthinkable happened and blew all of those faces out of town. Some we will never know again. Windows of opportunity opened for just a moment of time. Now here we were again in the same location, in the same sand, gravel and broken glass. A brand new crop of people. Faces with names. Dirty and seemingly hopeless. New windows of opportunity. New Orleans. Time to seize the moments before us in the sweltering night.

Everyone was hanging out doing their jobs. Talking. Praying. Some faces were familiar because we had met them earlier in the year under the 1-10 bridge but they are not there anymore. They have been cleaned out of that spot. Here they were, however, before us--- and a lot of them there were. Perhaps 200 or more. Some were talkative. Some of their faces were bent down with despair, helplessness, hopelessness. It isn’t that we can change their circumstances but we can offer the Jesus on the inside of us to wash over them shining hope on dark hearts of despair.

The night progressed and some of us found ourselves huddled together in discussion of the disparity of life on the street when we looked over to see a body lying on the ground. It never moved. Black t-shirt, pants, shoes. The two of us began discussing the oddity of the situation at hand. Soon we progressed to stand beside the body. Breathing? Yes. Moving? No. With our bodies bent down and eyes fixed on this person--- young woman---someone’s daughter---- we began discussing the situation at hand. Should we touch her? Not sure. Questions rolled through our heads and out our mouths. What to do? What is wrong? Soon we assembled ourselves together with a flashlight in hand to hopefully give us answers. A check of the pulse brought a peace-of-mind that she was alive and not near death. We took the risk to shake her. No response. Shook her again. Nothing. And again. Still nothing. She was out completely.

Then came the harsh reality of the entire night: this young girl with a beating heart, with sweaty skin, with a mother and father was under the influence of hard drugs. A tear fell from my eyes. And then another.

There she lay and no one could get her out of it. One of the newly met friends knew everything that was happening. He turned around to the group that had gathered and warned them of the pitfalls of life and that here was one example before us. “This is where this kind of lifestyle will lead you! Listen to me! If she is not helped here tonight this girl will be raped while she is lying here! Listen!” His words echoed through the heads of everyone standing.
We progressed further. We shook her. We got a wet cloth to try and arouse her. We kept on. Finally Kelly speaking loudly told her to GET UP and progressed to sit the girl up from her position. Her eyes began to open. GET UP! Those words began to take effect. Her eyes opened further. Here we were. Total strangers trying to help a total stranger. Someone had to do it or her life could be jeopardized this night.

She did. She woke up. She opened her eyes. She stood up.

Then she walked away.

There is more, right?

She accepted Jesus right there, right?

She walked away. Into the night she walked away and away she went. Back to those who had just left her lying on the ground. Back to the reason she was there to begin with. Probably.

Why are you writing this? You are probably asking that at this point. This is not a ‘chalk one up’ for you story. No points here.
This is a sobering moment to understand the power of satan and the choices that he lures us to make. He is real and he hates us all.
This is a moment to realize that there are those who are out there that need us. They need love from a God that is real.

God forbid they walk away into the night.