Brothers

Recently we were treated to a play at the Ahmanson Theatre by my husband's older brother, Paul.  Paul is the patriarch of the DeLucca clan -- what's left of it.  Sadly, there was a rift amongst the siblings a few years back and the tribe split.  We landed on the side of brother Paul.  He's a happy guy, whose eyes crinkle at the corners when he laughs, which is often, especially at himself.  He always greets me with a smooch on the cheek and a compliment.  He makes easy conversation, looks for ways to put you at ease, and never misses an opportunity to be a gentleman.  He's a lovable schmoozer and a skilled diplomat - his years in the film industry have made him that way.  I think I've always known this about him but our night out was just a reminder of what a great guy he is, and I wanted to say so.

The reason I mention him here, is because there was another brother, Donald, that didn't get talked about much, until it was too late.  Donald was a lost soul, and one who never was able to pull his life together.  Eventually he became homeless and died a young man, without benefit of family or friends as far as I know.  I think he was helped by the Rescue Mission at some point, but I haven't been able to confirm it.

It was a dream I had about Donald that was part of the reason my heart began to turn toward the homeless.  In it he appeared in our courtyard calling out my husband's name.  I was in the house and could see him from the french doors that were open to the air.  I waited for my husband to come around from the back and greet Donald; then I went out too.  As I approached him, I heard a small voice inside me say "call him brother".  So I did just that; greeted him with a hug and said, "Hello brother, what are you doing?"  While he was still holding me by my arms, he looked me straight in the eye and replied profoundly, "I'm turning night into day."

Several things sprang out of that dream.  One, I believe that Donald is my "brother in the Lord"; that somewhere along the line he heard the good news and surrendered his life, just as it was, to God.  Secondly, I know what he meant when he said "I'm turning night in to day"; but that I'll save for another time.  Third, I realized that the homeless were not someone else's family member, they were mine. Was it just a dream?  Maybe, maybe not.  But, it was one of the many pebbles being added to the scale that was eventually going to dip in the direction of serving the homeless.

So here's to Donald, who's watching from french windows in heaven, and to Paul, who lives life beautifully here on planet Earth, and to all the others in my sphere who are making a difference, big and small, each in their own way.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:17



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