A Gentle Reconciliation 

 "I saw her serving as I approached the salad bar apprehensively. Our interactions over the last months have been few, but tense. 

Mainly because the first time we talked one-on-one, she put me on trial for the sins of the patriarchy and the misogyny of her experiences as a woman in the church and life.

 It was a troubling peek into a soul that had suffered hurt and she seemed bent on taking that out on any man that triggered her.

 I’m a fairly easy target as one of the handful of men at a crisis shelter for women and children. 

“Why are you here?” is a legitimate question I have to answer. 

I try to walk softly and serve gently as I build trust through the consistency of being a kind presence at Union Gospel Mission shelters.

 At times those intentions take a while to convince some women, and others just keep their distance. Others throw the punch first anticipating a fight and they figure it’s better to come out swinging then get sucker punched by another man. 

I’ve got plenty of scars and bruises from years of pastoring in this reality of cultural brokenness. I try to stay focused and trust the Lord for whatever is needed to find a way to friendlier ground.

 Sometimes this happens. 

As I approached her and asked for the various items for my salad, she paused and looked at me and said: 

“I’m sorry for the way I treated you the last time I saw you…I have issues.”

I was a bit stunned at her conciliatory words and demeanor. I accepted her kind apology and said, I understood, and joked “we all have issues” as I moved down the salad bar.

 After chapel she paused as she was walking out and said: “Thank you, what you said was helpful to me.”

I’ve been simmering in the soft glow of reconciliation, grateful for small steps of meaningful bridge building. 

It’s not always easy, but these moments are encouraging. 

Thank you for the prayers ever offered, they sustain and support the work of love." 

Pastor Eric Blauer.