Disfigured Face and a Good Lunch!

Sounds kind of strange for a title, but it kind of highlights our day together at Penn Ave. Amy was at home with Sam this morning and I went in to try and take care of a few things and walked through the fellowship hall where several of our community folks had already begun to gather for lunch. Then a woman named Lily came up to me and said that her husband had been beaten up and was in the ER in south OKC. She hadn't seen him in a few days as he was out drinking. She asked if I would take her to see him. I couldn't say no as she was terrified. So, we made our way to Integris Hospital. On the way I found out that she and her husband had been homeless for over a year and both had struggled with several addictions, the main two being huffing paint and alcohol. This last addiction appeared to play a part in Tony's altercation. When we got to the hospital we made our way to the ER and walked into the room. It's hard to describe what I saw. He didn't look like the same person I knew. Apparently he was drunk and walking late last night and was ganged up on by two guys and they robbed him for six dollars. Six dollars. For a few minutes they weren't sure if they would be able to save his left eye. His orbital bone was shattered and both of his eyes were swollen shut. Remarkably, he was in really good spirits. It's hard to know how to help in that kind of situation. "Stop drinking, Tony." That's too obvious. Tony already knows that. He just has to choose to do it. So, I just decided to be a non-anxious presence. My friend Ed Robinson talked a lot about that in seminary. He's really good at that and I'm trying to get better at. Just to be present. I prayed with Tony and Lily and made my way to a lunch appointment with the senior pastor of Bethany First Church. He and his wife met me and Amy for lunch. I'm not sure I've ever been around a couple with so much Godly wisdom. They helped us tremendously and gave us great insight into how we might be able to help bring about some new hope and movement at Penn Avenue and OKC Compassion. It was good to be with them again. They are special people. We head to Waco, TX tomorrow to visit our family. Birthday parties are fun. Be back soon!