On Wednesday, April 21st 2010 our THIRST small group set out to the irrational, to try and show the grace to someone that God intended. A grace that can’t be pinned down by logic, or being realistic, but a grace that makes no sense.
At around 5:15 Andrew, Clayton and I, parked my car on Lincoln and Main in Downtown Spokane then set off on foot to find out guest of honor. You see, tonight our small group (Seven of us could experience it) wanted to treat a homeless man to dinner and conversation. Not just any dinner, but we had reservations for The Melting Pot at 7. With the money we were about to spend we could have easily gone out and fed 50 homeless people a meal, but we wanted something more. Jesus hung around prostitutes and tax collectors-the unclean- and we wanted to share in what our Savior did during his ministry.
After about 45 minutes of searching, (we walked all around Riverfront Park and Riverfront Square) we still had no prospects. We even said, “Maybe God doesn’t want to give us anyone.” But we still searched. We ended up walking back to my car, and then in pursuit of a man we saw up the street, we headed towards the 90 on Lincoln. About 2.5 blocks up, we saw a man in a jean jacket walking towards us, most definitely a homeless man. I looked at Andrew and Clayton and asked them if we should go for it, and didn’t get too much of a response. Finally about twenty feet to the man, I said, “So are we doing this?” and without much hesitation, the three of us approached this man, sticking out our hands for a high five. He first simply asks for 83 cents, because he was a little short for buying a beer (he said he wanted to be honest) after a little talking he bumped it up to 89 cents, showing us the change he had already collected. We had told him that we had dinner reservations at 7 but one of our buddies bailed on us so we were looking for someone to fill his spot. It must not have connected with him that we were implying that he should come with us. So after putting whatever change was in my pocket (our parking meter money) in his hand, he said thanks and began to walk away. We kind of just stood there, wondering why he was turning down the offer to eat with us, when I decided to ask, “Are you sure you don’t want to come have dinner with us?” He then replied that he didn’t know that we were inviting him! Earlier he had said that he had some stuff he had to take care of tonight, but after learning where we were going to eat he quickly changed his previous statement saying he was perfectly free! So now it is 6 and we have found our man, but we have an hour to burn before the rest of our group comes and we go to have dinner.
We go to sit on a bench while our new friend; “The Kuntz” smoked his freshly rolled cigarette. We later learned his full name was Stephen John Kuntz, for those of you who are wondering. Three Ukraine girls came up to the four of us while we were just hanging around, and went straight for it, handing us a ‘track’ and asking us if we thought we were going to heaven or hell… (What a great conversation starter…) They realized that we were Christian so left us to “preach” to our friend. We then got permission for us to videotape Stephen a little bit, and with a little explaining, he was willing. We went into the Riverfront Mall to use the bathrooms, (Stephen told us that these were the nice ones). And while walking out of the bathrooms we saw the Ukraine girls! Oh the chances. Both times Stephen told us that we missed a good opportunity to get their phone numbers, we simply laughed. From there Stephen brought us upstairs and this is where we decided to film. We went to a table area where no one was, and began asking some questions. Stephen, wasn’t too much into answering them, but decided to tell a story of him feeding the ducks in Southern Oregon and watching them slide all over the ice. While telling this of course, he had been sneaking sips of his beer. (Keep in mind we are in a closed-door mall). But it was great! We were his lookouts just in case the police decide to take a stroll by.
Starting to feel a little more comfortable, and with our question of “What do you think of the church and Christians?” Stephen takes another route, and begins to tell us how you can see God in everything, “The beauty in that plant, or that couple over there” It was very cool. Then he began to tell us that there are two things that are just amazing that were given to us by the “Man upstairs.” He first says laughter, and describes the feeling when seeing a little child giggling in such joy. And then he explains how seeing one person gives something to another is such a gift from God. It was amazing to see this man who was a little tipsy, and admitting to being VERY stoned, to be so open… And True! It was such good stuff.
After taking this video and him finishing his beer, we went outside so he could have a smoke. On our way down, we saw the rest of our group… and the Ukraine girls. (Yes the third time) and once again, Stephen bugged us for blowing a third opportunity, oh Stephen. But after hearing that I already had a girlfriend he was a little more understanding. After meeting the rest of the guys, and finally sitting for dinner, the time for our true purpose for tonight had begun, to share a meal with this man, and love him, and learn more about him.
As we were walking in, Stephen began to say: “Come on you guys, I’m not dressed for this.” Our response was that we weren’t either. (Just a hoody and cords for me.) We were seated in this secluded room where there was one other family, but they left not too long after. So it was just the eight of ready to enjoy a meal at The Melting Pot. This was a first time for all of us, so we all did not know quite what to expect. Before our first course, the bread, apples and vegetables in cheese dip, came out Ryan tried to ask Stephen a few questions, but Stephen was definitely one to change the subject. So then Ryan told him he could ask us any question he wanted to. And after Nick tried to tell his whole biography, but being shut down quickly by Stephen (“I don’t want to hear your whole biography!) We all laughed and the subject died down. Our cheese was finally at our table, and our server, Sarah was preparing the dips. Two cheddar dips on the end, and a spinach artichoke dip in the center. Seeing Stephen’s face light up being so excited to chow down and dip his bread and veggies in the cheese with his weapon of a squor, was such a neat sight. That fondue cheese was so good, and the conversation that came with it was even better. It was so cool to be sharing pots of melted cheese together with a homeless man in the mix. We were starting to forget that he was even homeless, he had become just one of the gang. After complimenting Travis’ sweet handlebar mustache, and dissing me as a “Sox Fan” ( I had a Boston hat on), our first course was complete, and it was time for a smoke break. Andrew and Ryan went outside with Stephen and just kept Stephen company while he enjoyed his homemade cigarette. I don’t know much of what happened outside, but Ryan and Andrew did say that once again he would kind of draw close to see why we were doing this for him, but then just quickly change the subject to something a little more on the surface.
When they came back, the rest of us had already begun to eat our salads as our second course. It was quite a scrumptious Caesar salad with tasty pine nuts! (Our server, Sarah rambled on how she made them herself, she was quite the sarcastic person). But throughout our Salad’s Stephen kept asking where the meat was, saying, “I need some goat!” (This became an inside joke throughout the night). We kept reminding him that the meat was coming with the third course.
While waiting for our third course Stephen began to tell us a story. Back when he was nineteen, there was one weekend his parents were gone, and of course he threw a party. He said he went down to Safeway and bought a lot of seafood, from calamari to shrimp. They boiled it up and everyone enjoyed. But then he said he had done something really bad,; He began to tell us that that night there were girls throwing up all over the place, who got sick from the seafood. Lesson Learned: Don’t buy seafood from Safeway. I don’t know quite why, but we were all laughing hard.
Now it was time for the third course, our main entrée. The plates came out with Cajun New York strip steak, bratwurst sausage, shrimp, vegetable dumplings, Asparagus (Asspergas according to Stephen), potatoes, mushrooms, and broccoli. Needless to say, A TON OF FOOD! We were all so excited. We pretended the steak was a Cajun goat just to keep things interesting for Stephen, and for laughs, and then it was feast time! Stephan began to tell us a talking dog joke, which he took a good ten minutes to lead to the punch line, only to say: “Because that dog is a damn liar!” But it was so funny, the eight of us guys just laughing up a storm all together. A little bit more into the main course, Stephen said he needed another smoke, and this time just Andrew went with him. They were gone for quite some time and we later when they got back we saw that they had gone to the local ‘beverage store’ to buy some beer. Andrew ended up buying him some more tobacco since he had run out. He later said that it was awesome to go buy some tobacco with a homeless man, and I’m sure it was an unforgettable experience. When they came back, we were still eating away (Boiling your own food is a timely process), and we just continued on. This course alone took at least an hour and a half between the cooking, eating and talking, and what a great hour it was! Stephen then told us another joke about the dentist and Viagra, but that is as far as I’ll go with that one. Who knows we could have a child in the audience…
Stephan was beginning to open up and let us see a part of him we had yet to see. Seeing that guy as simply a human with no attachments to him was awe-inspiring in itself. He began to tell us about a girl he had a huge crush on this girl when he was 14 and her name was Pansy Heart. Oh what a name. I thought that Stephen was great at sharing how he felt, and he was definitely one with words. We eventually finished up our last course and boiled up all the leftovers to put in boxes (Which Stephen didn’t want to take), and then Stephen went outside for another smoke, and Ryan went with him and joined. Ryan told us in the car after how a man will really open up if you enter into their world and don’t try to see yourself as any better. Oh the truth in that little statement. Their timing was perfect, and they came back just as Sarah was bringing out the desserts. There was strawberries, bananas, two types of marshmallows, cheesecake, pound cake, rice crispy treats, and brownies for the dipping, and a coconut-almond chocolate sauce to dip it in. It smelled so good!
With dessert came unforgettable moments; during this time the presence of the Holy Spirit in that room was overwhelming. I cannot describe the way we all felt. Stephen began to open up, constantly thanking us for what we had done, saying that he was having and hard time expressing this to us his feelings, but he did so very eloquently. At one moment Ryan began to tell him the reason we were here. He began to share the story of the Great Banquet; A parable Jesus used when talking about the kingdom of Heaven. This passage can be found in Luke 14:15-24, for you who want to read it. But this was a perfect demonstration of why we learn the stories in Small group and not just memorize. The effect the biblical parables have when you tell it like a story and not a recital is remarkable.
Back to the night we go. After telling the story, the room began to get very quiet. You could see how grateful Stephen was, and in that moment we saw a man crumble. He would try to just spill out everything, but he couldn’t seem to let it all out. It’s almost as if real men don’t cry, but to see him stumble in his speech and catch himself before he teared up was so humbling for us. We had become his friends, not just some guys giving him a meal. We were a group of guys that cared for one another as we did ourselves. Then one of his favorite songs came on in the restaurant, “Caribbean Dream” by Enya. He began to melt even more, lost in the song. And in that moment there was the loudest silence I have ever experienced. Looking back, I know it was the Holy Spirit, but in the moment I was so lost in the moment I just sat in awe. After minutes of songs and Stephen trying to word out his feelings, he left us with one thing, saying: “You guys gave me one big thing tonight, you guys gave me courage. Courage to overcome myself.” We were all about to tear up ourselves, it was such and intimate moment, that I could never produce the words to explain. With that he said that he had to go to pick out his bed wall, and get all his belongings together. He shook all of our hands (skipping me on accident) and begins to head out. I said, “Hey Stephen You forgot me!” So I get up to shake his hand. But both of us just went and gave each other a big hug. He then left, leaving me smelling his Alchol, cigarette, body odor, and there was no better way to end the night.
After he had left, we stepped outside the restaurant and began praying. We prayed for Stephen, for the homeless, for us and our hearts, and for the church to live more like what we experienced tonight. We were there for around fifteen minutes just diving into the spirit. This night, this night was one of the best nights I have ever experienced.
