bob and joan.

Recently, I was presented with the opportunity to travel with my staff team to the wonderful (and extremely cold) city of Boston. We worked with The Boston Project, an amazing ministry centered around being the hands and feet of the gospel. They are spending their days serving the homeless and those in need of an extra hand. I was very taken aback at the rarity that I do this in my own personal ministry. However, with the grace of the Lord, I am compelled to learn from my lack of service in my past, and move on to find ways to serve His people. 

While we were there, we met an older couple that The Boston Project has served many years. Their names were Bob and Joan. We entered their warm home with precious Joan taking our coats and as we were handing them off, wide grinned Bob comes slowly around the corner with a big "Well, Hello!" You could see all over his face that this moment with us had been a deep anticipation within him all day long. He walked us, with walker in tow, into the room where we would be visiting. He then begins to share with us the reason why this room was his favorite room in the whole house. He points with his finger to the picture on the wall. It is a beautiful picture of Jesus. "I like to sit here and look at Jesus," he says. Already tears are springing up in my eyes for the beauty that is pouring out of this couple. Immediately we begin by telling them our names and why we are here. Joan is up and about placing cookies and chex mix in our hands and pouring hot cider that she had made into mugs for us. Joan is a sensational caretaker. And you can tell she enjoys serving. An attribute of Jesus that she understands. There is something very unique about this couple that I haven't yet mentioned. They are an interracial couple. As soon as we get past the greetings, Joan proceeds to tell us their story. An interracial couple of their age is very rare due to the timing of when they fell in love. They tell us the many obstacles they had to face, the judgement and the scorn. Joan's mother did not approve. They couldn't find a church that would marry them. Finding an apartment to live in was even difficult. No one approved. Even when they had children, it took people a while to understand that Joan was their mother, even though she was white. People just didn't look past the color. Bob would discuss the moments of the two of them having to sit in the back of the bus, and the back of theaters. Each one of us sat there with tears streaming. How could this precious couple been treated so poorly? To me, this couple is the beauty of innocence in their old age. They have been through so much, but yet, they were not bitter, they were not giving us a civil rights speech. They were just telling us their story with such peace and forgiveness that can only flow from the Spirit. 

"Blessed are the pure in heart, 

for they shall see God."

Matthew 5:8

"Innocence. Purity. Child-likeness. Wonder. These are the attributes that we must walk in if we hope to see God's majesty... Innocence is at the root of who we are meant to be, and must remain at the heart of who we are. Imagine entering heaven with a higher level of innocence and wonder than when we started our journey with Him!" - Graham Cooke

I hope that when I am their age, I have the same kindness and joy and love pouring out of me to others that they showed to me. They displayed Jesus within them.