Sunday night I was walking around downtown Chicago while I killed time waiting for my train back to Indiana, and I was just overcome by such a strange feeling that I haven't expirienced in so long. It was like total loneliness mixed with despair. And I have no idea why I started to feel this way. When I was finally on the train on my way home, this man got on wearing one of those reflective orange and yellow and white vests that construction workers wear when they're working on the roads late at night. It was about 11:30 at this time and he got on, took off the vest and went to sleep immediately. And I just couldn't help but stare at him. It looked like he was holding a bottle of booze in his hand, and the sweatshirt he had been wearing under the vest read,"God Has Been So Good 2 Me." It was such a bittersweet picture. Before I got off the train I wrote him a note that said "God loves you very much" and I left it with his things. Walking home from the train station through Hammond at 12:30 am, there were hardly any cars, and it was almost silent except for the hum of the factories and the sounds of trains in the distance; and I just considered how that man is the sort of person I want to be associated with. I want to be able to feel that loneliness and despair and to understand what my fellow man feels. And the wonderful rejoicing of finding such love and acceptance in the arms of Christ. God is just calling me to be broken for my fellow man. To feel his pains and woes in my own heart and body. To really put myself in his shoes and be identified with him. I don't know what all this was supposed to mean, but I say halleluiah!

Christ is risen, and he is Lord!

- posted by Jonathan@ 10:12 PM