Our Shari Prestemon Social Justice Interns have graciously agreed to share some of their journal entries so that you can hear about the experience they’re having at Back Bay Mission! You can read a journal entry by Bethany Beaver below.
As part of our internship, Mr. Washington has taken us to the various nonprofit organizations which Back Bay Mission has helped to establish over the 92 plus years that is has been in existence. In this process, we have been granted the privilege of speaking with the leadership of each of the organizations about their work and all that they do. It has been an enlightening process, but one director in particular went even farther and explained to us his own story.
He had been a big time attorney. He was making a lot of money and enjoying the company of women and illegal drugs. Then, he was caught and ended up in jail. He told us that the best thing his family ever did was let him stay inside that cell for a while. It really gave him time to reflect and think about where his life had gone. After he got out, he went to go volunteer at the organization he now leads. Then he progressed and became an employee. It was not long after that the Executive Director at that time was getting ready to move on and told this one-time lawyer to apply for the position. As he prepared for the interview, the director gave him some phenomenal advice.
“Pray on it,” he had told him. The director said that if this position was meant for him, he would already have the right answers. If not, that must have never been God’s plan for him to begin with. He took that advice, and he now sat in front of us as the Executive Director of the organization.
And now, although he only makes a year what he used to make in a week, he looks at peace. He says he is happy. He feeds those who are hungry. He does not care if they are rich, poor, young, or old. As long as they are respectful and do not steal from him, he lets them eat. And if the police arrive, wanting to look for someone, he turns them away if they do not possess a warrant.
“But if they have a warrant, well at that point, I render to Caesar what is Caesar,” he says with a chuckle.
And his story, although phenomenal, is not exceptional to all the others I have been told these past seven weeks. The people down here have been more than gracious to share their own stories of pain, of triumph, and of sorrow. They are more than willing to admit that they are flawed and imperfect.
They are also willing to accept the roles that their faith has played in their lives. Just as the man who I took through the food pantry did every time he made a selection. I still smile as I think of him saying, “I will take the green beans. Thank you Jesus.”
The presence of God is everywhere at Back Bay Mission. In the employees, in the work camp volunteers, and in the people that we serve.
Every day, is in fact, a blessing.
