We are put on this Earth for a reason
There can be no doubt that I was to sit with Louann at Liberty Plaza (in Ann Arbor) last night to listen to her story. Two minutes in to this homeless woman’s story I could tell that this poor woman is nearly paralyzed by anxiety much of the time. The fact that she permitted me to just sit down beside her was one small victory right there!
Her life is one big chaotic mess and her crushing mental illness means that she is stuck in a fate almost worse than death. Just listening to her made me feel so sad and afraid for her. But sitting and listening is all I was asked to do right then and so nothing else really mattered.
What was I going to say? What could I do? I felt so helpless and powerless. Her cross is so heavy!! Was I evangelizing last night? Was I?? I just stayed with it and listened for several more minutes as she gushed out her psychological vomit. Eventually, Louann took a deep breath to calm her nerves and regain some control over her emotions and that was when the Holy Spirit told me to say aloud what she needed to hear. “I don’t want you to feel afraid or alone anymore”. Boy did that hit the mark! It was a bullseye!! Seeing her sit quietly with that remark was refreshing to her soul (and to mine). And then I remembered the St.Michael medal I was wearing. Taking it off I placed it over her head telling her to never take it off; that St. Micheal the Archangel will keep you safe. My SPSE teammate circled back around and together we prayed the St. Micheal prayer for protection over Louann. That was all we could do for this daughter of God but that was all we were asked to do. Nothing more.
Every human being, regardless of race, creed or gender, from the most intelligent and successful to the most unhappy and disturbed has a deep, often unspoken, yearning to be one with their creator - and thus find peace. Louann deserves peace. We all do.