Meeting Vaunn
“I’d like to think that the Kingdom of God is for people
like Vaunn.” –Aida
My good friend Aida and I work together at The Rescue
Mission of Trenton. This has been one of the best experiences during my time at
seminary thus far. Some days it is challenging and rewarding; other days it is
challenging and leaves me feeling empty and helpless as I return to my
comfortable world at the seminary. The day we met Vaunn was all the above.
On our way home from work, Aida and I often reflect on our
time at The Rescue Mission. What kind of day was it? What did we learn about
the people we met? The day we met Vaunn, Aida spoke words I will never forget:
“I’d like to think that the Kingdom of God is for people like Vaunn.” We sat in
silence for a bit letting the words hang in the air. It was like we’d both met
Jesus that day.
I distinctively remember stepping out into the tiny hallway
to meet with Vaunn. I had four pieces of paper for her to sign. Because my
paperwork takes the least amount of time, I am usually the only person, out of
four people, to have a conversation with our client(s) that doesn’t revolve
around business. When I sat down next to Vaunn, she looked timid and isolated.
I asked her name and began the paperwork with her. She did everything quietly,
asking no questions. When we finished, I knew no one was available for me to
see, and that no one was available to see her so I asked one simple question
that changed everything.
“No one else is ready for you yet, would you mind if I sit
here with you?”
“Sure. Thank you.” She replied.
I got the sense that this was the first time someone offered
to simply give her their presence. When I go to The Rescue Mission, I know I
can’t move mountains. I am one person, there’s very little I can do, but I can
offer agency and voice to the people staying at the Mission, and I can offer
presence. True presence. Not just the presence that that offers a body in the
vicinity, but a presence that says, “I am here for you”.
As we sat there together, Vaunn began to tell me about her
life and how she found herself at the Mission. I will not share her stories
here because they are not mine to share, but she is a beautiful young woman.
She is pregnant and was disowned by her family because she refused to give her
baby up for adoption. She is a young girl no older than 19 and she is living
with the most courage and conviction I’ve ever seen. Her life involves some
hurtful experiences with the church, but when she found out that I am in seminary
and that I pray for people even if they don’t believe God cares for them
because I do and that means something, she asked me to pray for her. She said,
“Well, if you have time, could you maybe pray for me too?” This girl who has
every reason to not trust me, or the God I love, took a leap of faith is asking
me to pray for her. Of course I said yes, and with both a full and heavy heart
I have continued to pray for her.
So much of me wishes I could tell you the things Vaunn has
seen and the challenges and fears she is willing to face. Actually, I what I
really want is for all of you to meet her. I know she could change your life
like she has changed mine.
So, our drive home was particularly powerful. I cannot speak
to Aida’s story of her time with Vaunn but I hadn’t told Aida anything when she
made her statement about the Kingdom of God. That only further confirms my
knowledge that Vaunn is a special kind of person I will only meet a handful of
times in my life. Vaunn represents a special kind of beauty that can only be
found in God’s Kingdom. The beauty that is found in creation. The beauty that
is found in Jesus. The beauty that is found in having courage and facing fear
for the sake of what is right.
Our conversation that evening sparked some very real
convictions that the Kingdom of God is not for us and is completely for us at
the same time. It brought forth humility and awareness for the beauty revealed
to us that night.
Very rarely do we see clients again. Adia and I spend maybe
20 minutes with them, and, unless we take them to the doctor in the morning, we
don’t see them again. This past week I got to see Vaunn again. She looked
happier and more at peace. I immediately recognized her and was able to greet
her with an excited hello. Of all the people I would have wanted to see again,
she was at the top of the list. As she left the office she said again, “Don’t
stop praying for me.” And I was able to reassure her that I have not forgotten,
nor will I forget.
I guess I have two purposes for telling you this story: 1)
Vaunn has changed my life. She has both encouraged and challenged me
spiritually. That’s the sort of thing blog posts are about, but this next
reason is the main thing 2) I would like to invite all of you to join me in
prayer. I may never know what happens to Vaunn, but there is something deeply
beautiful about having to truly trust her unto the care of Jesus. My prayers
for her are solely for her well being and the acknowledgment that God continues
to work in this world when we are not present. My prayers are truly one of
faith because I cannot see if they are working, I can only believe that God is faithful,
as God has promised God will be.
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