11.16.2007

I Met a Man

I met a man last night.

he answers to "danny."

my own age, but ageless

displaced homeless

a Katrina evacuee

he lives in the woods

next to an Office Depot

invisible

down a hidden path,

cleared and lined with branches

fashioned into an elaborate fence

decorated with discarded toys

little trucks and cars

a tiny sandy beach,

with rocks and palms

a bedroom built of boards

and plastic

no doors, no locks

but windows into the soul

campfire in the "kitchen"

the woods a latrine


we brought blankets

and boxes of rations

medicines and bandages

maps to the mission

I invited him to clinic

to breakfast, to lunch

he's just down the road

our neighbor

life his choice,

in his own words

"i am not homeless

i am houseless"

Next time, I'll bring mustard seeds

and tomato seedlings

i met a man

who lives in an

enchanted garden

i met a man

unwashed, unshaven

laughter rains like music

from a toothless grin

clothed in dirt,

and Salvation Army jeans

I met a man

It might have been me

I met a man

i saw Jesus

__._.___

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Bednar Clan on a Mission

Bednar Clan on a Mission
the Bednar family of Cleburne, Texas spent the day volunteering at the clinic. Amy took over nursing duties and lab draws, former Navy medic Dave helped with vitals and intake and the rest of the clan worked in the food bank and pharmacy.

ELEVATOR SPEECH

The Pool of Siloam Medical Ministry and Free Clinic is a non-profit faith-based organization created to share the Love of Jesus through ministry to the medically underserved. We believe that by building Christ-centered relationships built on mutual trust and respect and by providing our patients with tools of education, screening, medication assistance, medical supplies, equipment, counseling and accessible excellent health and dental care, we can empower them to take better care of themselves. Our services include free adult medical care, women's health clinic, mental health counseling and lab testing. Through our diabetic program, we provide routine diabetic eye exams and limb and wound evaluation. Our Breathe Free Program provides pulmonary function screening, medications, nebulizers, oxygen, CPAP and BiPAP equipment where indicated for cardiopulmonary patients. In partnership with other ministries at the New Room, we are able to provide meals, food and clothing. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, we join our friends from Hope for the Homeless to make rounds on the streets and in encampments to provide care and first aid.

With the exception of an Executive Director / Clinician, an Administrative Director and a counselor funded by the Methodist District, we are staffed by volunteers who provide hundreds of hours of service. We are housed by rental agreement in the New Room, an outreach mission center of Grace Community, a United Methodist congregation. We are funded by grants, gifts and in-kind donations. Your support makes it possible for us to continue to provide services for our patients.



Living by the Clock

to live each day without regret
to move to the tick of a finite clock
to live each day as if it were the last
before you stand before your God

to imagine that the person you love
might be gone tomorrow
that the moment for reconciliation
may be lost

that the friend not met
might have been your soul-mate
that the child left behind
might never be found

that the word not spoken
might have been someone’s salvation
that the life not saved
might have saved the world

that the wound not dressed
might fester and kill
that the path not taken
might have led to home

that the call not answered
might have been the voice of God
to live each day
as if it was your last

to celebrate each Sabbath in rest
like your life depended on it