The manager of a free coffeehouse ministry wears many hats. Literally (as you already know from a previous e-news article) and figuratively. I'm a manager, administrator, fundraiser, missionary, and counselor. A janitor, dishwasher, carpenter, painter, short-order cook, and amateur Barista. You name it. I most likely do it.
I now proudly wear the title of "shoelace tie-dude."
Evelyn Crowley, a gracious helper, stood behind the cafe counter diligently wrapping goodies. I sat on a stool across from her when one of our beloved handicapped guests dropped in. He approached me asking, "Tim, can you tie my shoelace?"
"I would be honored."
The seven-foot man stood while I bent down on my hands and knees to carefully tie his loose shoelace. This guy towered over me. I felt nervous, vulnerable, and humbled. He reminds me of Andre the Giant from the WWF (World Wrestling Federation).
"Do you want this loose shoelace tied in a double knot?" I nearly shudder, hoping to not suddenly find myself in a debilitating sleeper hold.
The gentleman heartily replies, "Yeah!"
"It looks like your other shoelace is coming loose. Would you like me to tighten it also?"
"Yes, please," he says.
I reply, "Anytime you need your shoes tied, you can ask me. Okay?"
"Okay."
"You're my pal right?"
"Oh, yeah!" He gargles.
The man sat down, finished his soup, drank his coffee, then left.
Jesus said, "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me'" (NKJV, Matthew 25:40).
I pray and hope Jesus' words are true. I want my great King to tie the "shoestrings of my heart" when they come untied. Which happens quite often. I want lots of opportunities to approach Him asking for help with my inability to daily trust Him. Which, again, happens nearly everyday. My inability to consistently trust Him is at the top of my "strengths" list. (You don't want to know what atop's my "weaknesses" list.)
Thank you for your financial support and prayers. We need more...of both. The staff and volunteers of Cafe 41:11 couldn't continue serving on our hands and knees without your sacrificial support. Thanks for empowering us to be "shoelace tie-dudes and dudettes."