Leroy Barber's Blog
Turnaround Day / 06.23.08, 09:42 AM
Mission Year is a place where we believe in the ministry of presence – that being a good neighbor means not only being available when someone is in need but also being there when someone is ready to give God the opportunity to work in his life. When someone is ready to turn it around, a good neighbor knows that God will be present and is ready to lead someone through that process.
This Sunday was already special because it was the day my oldest son would graduate from high school. It was destined to be a great day. I woke up like most Sunday mornings and headed out to get some quiet time in as I prepared for the day. I went to the backyard, opened my gate, and began doing some small odd jobs to prepare for the barbeque planned for after the graduation ceremony. Into the yard walks James.
James is a young man from our neighborhood who is the same age as my son. In fact they have hung out on occasion and even got into trouble together as middle schoolers. James was not graduating on this day; he dropped out of school a few years back and has spent a little time in juvenile. He has sold drugs in the neighborhood and probably dabbled in them a bit himself. James is however a very gifted young man. My mind flashed back to him winning awards in junior high school for academics and art. He is a very good artist and has won accolades for his talent. Something went wrong for James, and he started on a downward spiral that had him now living below his potential. How ironic that he entered my yard on this morning where his life and my son’s were completely opposite, the contrast marked by the day’s events.
James came into my yard and asked if I had time to talk. As we sat down he began to talk about his life and how he wanted to straighten it up. “I am ready,” was his statement to me. He had been sleeping on his mom’s sofa for lack of somewhere else to go. He and his dad had a fight, and he was no longer welcome at his father’s house. “I am tired of life like this, Mr. Leroy. Can you help me get things together? I am ready to know God. I feel like ending it some days, can you help?” James and I began to talk about a number of things about life and what it would take to get things back on track. This conversation ended with a prayer with James in tears asking for God to be a part of his life.
The incredible opportunity that is consistently before us at Mission year is to be present at moments like this, and as team members take advantage of these moments we see God’s grace played out. Your support gives us opportunity to be in these moments.
James has a long way to go to get things back to where he wants them, but this could be his turnaround day. The day you mark as the point where you make a change for the better, and all God has for you begins to enter your soul. I clearly remember my turnaround day. I was eighteen and angry at the world, destructive to myself and those around me, and God came into me like a flood. I pray this day was James’ day.
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