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Will You Too Pass Me By? By Rev, Peter E. Fink.S.J. Every onee in a while along the road, I stop to pick op a hitch-hiker, I don’t do it all the time, but for doing it at all my friends tell me I am crazy, that it is dangerous and foolish. Ami I always answer by telling two stories, one which I heard, and one which happened to me. The first is a story of a man in Minnesota whose car broke down, and who tried to hitch a ride for help. Car after car, on a cold winter night, passed him by. They found him the next day. He had killed himself. And the note he left said simply: “I can’t stand the cold any more.” The second happened on a cold, rainy night when a friend and I had missed our bus back to the seminary six miles away. We walked, and car after car passed us by. Finally, after walk ing about four of the miles, with neither body nor spirit feeling very good, someone did stop and drive us home. I realized that night for the first the meaning of a simple, well-used phrase: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Foolish though it is, and possibly dangerous, and though 1 don’t particularly recommend it to anyone else, I know that from time to time I must stop and pick up a hitch-hiker. There are so many stories in the bible where the comfortable and the cozy are brought to task for not caring when some one was in need. Perhaps the most famous is the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man. I always feel uncom fortable with such stories, because I know that I too do not always share what I have, be it time, talent, love, or food, with those who are in need. I too meet many hitch-hikers in life, and they are not always found along the road. They ask for help, and I turn my eyes and pass them by. But every now and again I remember a secret told so long ago, that each per- ‘ son is my brother and my sister, and that secret calls me to another way. It calls me past the conversation I don’t agree with, past the mannerisms that turn me off, and invites me to see myself in those who stop me along the way. In those rare moments when I am honest, I see in your need for love my own, in your need for care and concern my own need. Perhaps I just re member that I too can’t stand the cold. And that’s when I stop, and always I am the better for it. Hitch-hikers come in many shapes and forms, and under many names. YouTl find them in the bars, in the park, or on the street. They are all the someones who stop you along the way and say: help me. And if your eyes are on yourself for what you can get, if you are afraid or just don’t want to be bothered, then you too will pass them by. And in the passing, you will pass Him by. The Carpenter said some centuries ago: love one another. He who, has ears to hear, let him hear. It is, of course, foolish, even dangerous, for love can be betrayed. But that’s the bad news. We who believe in Jesus of Nazareth speak not bad news but good news. And the good news which tugs at our faith is that love is worth all the foolishness and all the danger, for in the end it will conquer. Next time you are w**- ing and see a hitch-hiker, I don’t ask you to stop. I only ask that you re member. SOUTHEAST DISTRICT OF THE UNIVERSAL FELLOWSHIP OF METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES P. O. Box 370963 Miami, Florida 33127 Telephone (305) 758-7190 DISTRICT COORDINATOR: Rev. Keith Davis - Miami DISTRICT CLERK: Mr. Ernie Richardson - Tampa X A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A AAA < « < < <1 CHURCHES ATLANTA Metropolitan Community Church 800 North Highland Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30306 Rev. Elder John Gill, Pastor (404) 872-2246 FORT LAUDERDALE Metropolitan Community Church 1127 S.W. Second Court Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312 Rev. Peter Wilson, Pastor (305) 524-0004 JACKSONVILLE Metropolitan Community Church Post Office Box 291 Jacksonville, Florida 32201 Deacon Woody Slappey, Worship Coordinator MIAMI CHRIST Metropolitan Community Church Post Office Box 370963 Miami, Florida 33127 Rev. Keith Davis, Pastor (305) 758-7190 TAMPA Metropolitan Community Church 2904 Concordia Avenue Tampa, Florida 33609 Rev. Elder John Hose, Pastor (813) 839-5939 MISSION NASHVILLE M.C.C. Mission P.O.Box 187 Nashville, Tennessee 37202 Rev. Darryl Etzler, Interim Pastor (615) 749-6454 STUDY GROUPS COLUMBIA M.C.C. Study Group P.O.Box 11181 Columbia, South Carolina 29211 George C. Meader, Worship Coordinator ORLANDO M.C.C. Study Group P.O.Box 20262 Orlando, Florida 32814 Rev. Lee Spangenberg, Pastor (305) 894-5379 The Southeast District of UFMCC is earnestly seeking qualified people to assume leadership in many more cities in the Southeast U.S. If you have the training, experience, and calling, please get in touch immediately with our District Coordinator, Rev. Keith Davis at the above address. GENERAL FELLOWSHIP OFFICES: 1050 South Hill Street Los Angeles, California 90015 (213) 748-2111 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > X WWW WWW VVVVVVVv TVYVVVVYVVYVYYX THE ARB - 9 A Note From Jeanni I would like to take this time to wish all oi '"""readers a wonderful holiday season and a dynamite new year. I want to fhank all my friends, the Rat Pack, and groovy acquaintances for their help with the Barb I am grate ful to say that many heterosexuals.I have come in contact with this past year look forward to reading the new issues of the Barb with enthusiasm and a new outlook on the life style of the homophile community. The Barb has come a long way. We still have a long way to go. Our Editor has gone to a great deal of personal sacrifice and expense to back up his faith in the gay community. It has been a rough road but theBarbmadeitandthe future is bright. I wonder if Rev. Troy Perry and Rev. John Gill realize just how fantastic they really are? and all the ministers of MCC, throughout the world. It is tough enough job being a clergyman inthisdayandagebut our MCC minis ters carry twice the load, and still stand strong in the face of adversity. God bless you all and keep the faith Brothers and Sisters. A new day is dawning. Co-Editor W caves Povus justas pov-ail tKo. chUdreN x>P Uis oraatioN. VAa usto be tapPY/ fe I ov» M iwn, BNd tro Share H is \ ove. w rth o thevJ. THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH Sundays at 2:00 and 6:30 872-2246 800 NORTH HIGHLAND AVE. MILAN THEATRE Do your Christmas shopp ing witn us. YouTl be glad you did. In fact you might just send your Christmas present to Yourself. Jade Ivory Brass Screens Jewelry Novelties Porcelain Cloisonne oriental BAZAAR 262 E- Paces Ferry Rd. Atlanta, Georgia