Street Stories

Weblog of Seattle minister to the homeless Rick Reynolds, Operation Nightwatch

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Location: Seattle, Washington, United States

Caring for human beings seems like the best use of my time, homeless or not.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Will you help Ronnie?

In many ways, Operation Nightwatch resembles the homeless folks we serve. A little rough around the edges. Humble. And in need.

We rely on regular folks, sending support, so we can get homeless people off the street. One guy, Ronnie, confronted me in the night. To find out what happened, click on the star, and watch the video. It's barely four minutes. Would you do that for me? Please don't turn away. Thank you.

Friday, October 11, 2013

It takes your breath away 10/11/13



You are standing in the parking lot of a great cathedral
Home to a hundred homeless friends.
And in the dark and gloom outside
The grand organ echoes.
It takes your breath away.
*
You deliver homeless men to another sanctuary
And in the dark, they sigh, contented beyond measure
As one of their own sits at the grand piano.
He plays a gentle flowing stream of music
That whispers Comfort in that sacred place.
It takes your breath away.
*
There will be music on that Day
Resounding trombones, New Orleans-style.
God’s trombones
Playing the notes between the notes
Another flowing stream
It will take your breath away.

I wrote this in honor of my cousin Robert Crane, and in honor of his new grandchild.