the lonely man goes to mass

for five years he has gone
to the same small church
each sunday
but no one greets him
or speaks to him
or wants to call him friend
and so he is
alone

so one spring sunday
he brings a chicken with him
to church
and an old woman said
dear brother, you are not permitted
to bring poultry in here

during the alleluia
the chicken laid her egg
not quietly
and an usher said
dear christian brother,
you must not bring
your livestock to church

going up for communion
the deacon advanced
your chicken may not be here
dear brother
you must know that

after mass the man went out
to shake pastor's hand
and for the first time
the pastor spoke
it is so good you are here
my dear brother in christ
but you must not bring a chicken
to the lord's house

the lonely man smiled
and said
i know that
but i did not know
how to be your brother
and now i know
bring a chicken

(c) Feb. 19, 2012 Nissa Annakindt

The story in this poem, in a chicken-free version, was told in a homily by Fr. Michael Ocran, our associate pastor who is from Africa. He was speaking on the importance of being friends to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I can identify with the man as I have a lifetime of being the one that no one speaks to. In a more outgoing Evangelical-type church, people may greet me superficially rather than not speak at all.

(If you are wondering why I don't hang out with non-religious people--- my experience in life has been this: non-religious people throw rocks at me, call me x-rated names, and otherwise show contempt. Christians at least tolerate my presence, and once in a great while will even say 'hello'.)

It's funny that Christian people know that there are people who are painfully shy, or have Asperger Syndrome, or for other reasons are not outgoing people who can easily make friends. But when they see a person who goes to their church time and again, but who does not go up to them to introduce themselves, they conclude that person is standoffish or stuck-up rather than understanding that the person desperately wants their love and friendship.

Perhaps this Lent some of you people with good social skills might 'adopt' some lonely person at your church--- not just greet them, but try to have conversations with them, perhaps invite them to lunch some time.

If the person, like me, has Asperger Syndrome, you may have to learn how to be friends with an aspie. You may need to always be the one who takes the initiative to talk to him or phone him. You may always be the one who suggests doing something like going to lunch together. You may get bored when he talks about one of his 'special interests' that you are not interested in, such as anime or Dark Shadows fandom or promoting American monarchism. But the Lord will bless you for it.

Write a Christian Poem for Lent

My other blog, Opium Cactus Poetry Immersion, is challenging all Christian writers out there to write a Christian poem for Lent, and submit it at: http://opiumcactus.blogspot.com/2012/02/write-christian-poem-for-lent-contest.html

The contest is NOT just for Catholics, but is open to Evangelicals, Protestants, Latter Day Saints, and other followers of Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible. And you don't have to be observing Lent to participate. (Please spread the word about the contest on your blog or Facebook page.)