A Man Called James

Part three of my reflection of the trip to the Gulf conjures up memories of a man called James. He, too, was a member of the local church where we stayed and worked. Upon our arrival we realized that James was in some position of leadership in the area's slow, painful recovery process. He apparently was instrumental in assisting those in this small community - which was just a fraction of something so vast, that still none of us can wrap our minds around it. It is difficult to imagine trying to take the slice of misery we saw and then attempt to multiply it by hundreds of square miles.


But James was seemingly everywhere. When we arose in the morning to fix a yummy "Fried Spam on White Bread" breakfast (displayed here by Jeff, and cooked by Mark), cooked on a small Coleman burner on the back of Mark’s pickup truck, James was soon there. He would often show up at job sites to see how things were going or to give details of the next project. At day’s end, he would be there too.


He even provided the crew with a very crude, cold, but welcomed shower on his property after a long dirty day. James, like the pastor of the church where he attended, had taken the time and talents given him by God to do whatever he could to serve those in need.


It was not until after we had completed a few jobs that we learned how unselfish this man really was. Another great guy, Greg, from a church in Georgia, was also helping in the recovery at Lakeshore. He, too, was invaluable as far as directing the work sites and supplying whatever needs we might have. At the conclusion of one day’s work, Greg informed us that we would now be working at James’ house. We learned that his large mobile home was damaged so badly that it would have to be destroyed.


It had been lifted up by a tornado, smashed against a tree, and then submerged by water which ruined everything inside. We also then learned that in the 7 weeks since the hurricane, James had done nothing to his own home and instead worked tirelessly for those around him.


(James, inside his broken home, with Frank, Blaise, Nate, - Jeff behind - and Cliff)
This man was a model of a selfless servant even though his needs were as great or, in some cases, greater than those around him.


The task at his home was simple while still heartbreaking. All he requested was that we strip his mobile home of whatever exterior sliding was not damaged. His plan was to use those materials to build a small shed to live in for the winter, and continue to help his church family and his community in their own recovery process.


With James it was all about "others" first. As I thought about the attitude of this one humble man, I was reminded of the attitude of a Creator God. I was reminded of the words of Mark 10:45, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Serving comes in many forms and on many levels. There is a loving God who gave the ultimate sacrifice to redeem His lost creatures.


Then there is a James, himself redeemed through His Savior, and whose heart and actions evidence outwardly his salvation and that inward change. Thank you, James,
for your continuing service to others and for a powerful lesson of sacrificial living that we can all strive to duplicate as God gives us opportunity.