Does this soul need to be saved?

Saving a soul or does this soul need to be saved?

There I was in church on the first Friday of Lent for the Stations of the Cross. It’d been years since I went to the Stations of the Cross but for the new me, this was a must. Participation was sparse. I felt bad about that. I was in a pew by myself. The man in front of me was in the pew by himself. No room for communication during this type of solemn worship on the Passion of Christ but at the end he leaned over and said something to me. I pretended to understand. I smiled and nodded though I didn’t understand or hear well and then he was gone. I thought no more about it.

Next Tuesday at 7PM I arrived for the 1^st of a 4 part workshop Father was presenting titled, “Crossing the Desert.”* I had enrolled in this workshop and paid ahead $5 for the book by the same title. Small round tables were set up in the gym. I was sitting with my prayer group friends when a bald headed white bearded man asked if anyone was sitting in the last empty seat at our table. I made a corny joke that we were saving it for him. He sat down next to me. He looked familiar. I asked, “Do I know you?” He told me he was at the Stations of the Cross last Friday. I learned his name is Rick.

Now Father announces that it’s time to pick up our books and a workshop schedule. Father reminded us that if we didn’t register, there may not be enough books because he only bought 35 books and there were more than 35 people in attendance. On hearing this Rick got a little upset. He said, “I didn’t know we had to register.” I told him to get in line with me and maybe he would get a book. When it was our turn I got a book and a schedule. He was told to wait and see. I could see Rick was getting more upset. He said again that he didn’t know we had to register.

I saw Father in the kitchen making coffee. I went and told Father that we need a book for Rick and pointed to him. Father said, “We’ll see.”

When I got back to the table, Rick was already there. Everyone at our table had a book except him. Rick said, “They wouldn’t even give me one of those indicating the schedule I had.” He said “I wanted to do this for Lent but I might as well leave.” I told him I was so sorry. I told him this is terrible. He said, “Yea, I’m going home. I don’t need this.” I asked him to stay. I said, “I think you’ll get a book!” I didn’t know how this would happen but I felt certain he would. In few minutes Father personally brought over a book and a schedule for Rick.

We had a good session that night.

The next week I gave my neighbor a ride to the workshop. My neighbor invited me to sit at one table and my prayer group friends were calling me to sit with them. But then my friend Mary from prayer group said, “look there’s your friend!” I saw Rick sitting at a table by himself. Without hesitation I went and sat with him. Later I hoped my friends didn’t think this was inappropriate but I remembered how Rick wanted to leave last week and I’d convinced him to stay. I felt I had to see this through. We talked a little before it started. He told me he had highlighted one significant thing in the two chapters we were to read. I looked and we were both surprised to learn that I had highlighted the exact same passage. It had something to do with sin and virtue. We ended up with a full table.

Later Rick told me he’d like to be more involved with the Church but…and then he told me about some obstacles, you know how it is, shit happens. What do I do about that?” I told him to go to Confession. He answered, “What’s the point? It’s just going to happen again.” I told him to go to Confession again but in my mind I was thinking, “Who am I to be telling him this?” I wanted to ask him to talk to Father, but then the workshop started and we never talked about it again.

Next week I was running a little late and found an empty place at one of the tables. We had some hard questions to think about and answer. I believe we had wonderful responses. Then when I heard how people from other tables had answered the questions, I thought, wow, everyone is putting so much into this. I could feel the Holy Spirit moving among us. I looked around and noticed Rick wasn’t there. I hoped the reason he wasn’t there is because something came up.

The next Friday I arrived at church for the Stations of the Cross. As I stepped inside I was happy to see Rick just arriving. I asked him where he was last week. He said he didn’t feel like going. I asked why. He said it wasn’t what he expected. He said there’s too much introspection. I told him I was afraid it was something like that. My mind was saying “what am I doing! Mind your own business!” This man had to lean in close to talk to me since we were whispering and I can’t hear well. His breath smelled like minty Copenhagen. I thought “yuck!” In less than I second I felt guilty for my negative thoughts. These thoughts probably came and went in less than a second but was the devil trying to discourage me from helping this soul? I told Rick to come next week to Crossing the Desert. He said, “Oh I don’t know.” I encouraged him to come. I said, “I’ll sit with you.” He answered, “it was kind of fun.” I told him, “remember how we were goofing off and Father got upset with us?” Rick smiled and said “well okay.”

During the Stations of the Cross my mind was racing as it tends to do. I thought, “Am I doing the right thing. Should I be so familiar with this man?” I felt the Holy Spirit was directing me. I felt Rick might have fallen away from the Church and was working his way back. I was afraid he could just as easily fall away again if not given a little encouragement. I believe my intentions were pure. I thought maybe next time I can learn a little of his story, his faith history, and encourage him to make an appointment to talk to Father.

When I got home I found my husband in the woodworking shop. I told him all about the man I met at church. I told him the whole story in detail. I wanted to get a feel if this might bother him but he was cool. So if the Holy Spirit was calling me to direct this person in some capacity it was probably acceptable.

This story has no dramatic ending. Next time I saw Rick we both admitted that neither one of us had attended the last session of Crossing the Desert. I see him now and then in church and we say hello. Whatever I was being called to do I hope I did it or maybe the call was not about me but for me.

* Crossing the Desert: Lent and Conversion by James Keating