OranJesus

We open the old panel door with peeling white paint revealing green remnants of a previous style. Sounds of activity and life descend the stairs inside and meet our ears. Below the staircase is a table covered in flyers and posters for local theater, visiting musical artists, and new movies showing at the art house theater a block down the street. The store on the ground level sells buttons with words on them like "Coffee is god" and "Who arted?" They sell journals and sketchbooks made of old album covers, handmade recycled bags and wallets, and metal art. Tonight, however, the store is closed.

We ascend the stairs. They give an immediate feeling of belonging and a sense that you are accepted. The walls are painted a pleasant yellow that makes you feel home. At the central landing is a painting of a lake and trees on an unknown brand of canvas covered by tall panes of glass. Without a doubt it is an original. Faux brick is exposed on various parts of the wall. Noone cares that its fake because it serves its purpose. As we reach the top of the stairs, a crowd of three or four is gathered around a single man. He is dressed in orange crocs, orange socks, orange pants, an orange shawl / toga / large piece of fabric thing and carries an orange messenger bag. His hair is long and his beard is at least six inches long. The first thing that any of us think is Jesus. On his face is a joy and acceptance and love. We find our comfortable mismatched seats next to the fire and he takes a seat across the room with someone who could range from old friend to a fresh acquaintance. All of us want to talk to him but do not want to interrupt his conversation, even though it is obvious by his demeanor that he wouldn't mind. He exudes kindness and acceptance and love.

In another seat around the room, we see a middle aged black woman who introduces herself as "Hollywood." She is kind and sweet. She speaks to a woman quietly reading her book and introduces herself. Hollywood's not exactly all there, but the woman speaks to her and smiles at her. I glance up to see this brief exchange and the woman in her seat looks at me and gives me a quick smile. That smile breathes acceptance for this woman. It shouts that there has been no harm done. The love is overwhelming.

We begin to catch bits of the conversation of the orange man. He is speaking to his friend and writing in an old notebook. He speaks of giving and living selflessly. He speaks of demonstrating the love of God. He dresses this way to invite questions so that people will ask him and he will have an opportunity to talk to them. He shares his faith through setting himself apart from the norm. By separating himself from normalcy and the everyday, he has opened up so much room in his life for people to approach him. By going outside of himself, he is allowing God to use him in anyway God needs.

May you take from this story the truth that when we go outside of ourselves, when we leave our comfortable beds and apartments, when we lose the support of our friends and family, when we truly love everyone else more than ourselves, when we finally follow the will of God, he uses us in ways we couldn't ever imagine.