Leonard and the Sign of the Cross
Introduction by V. Rev. Fr. Paul Albert

One of the members of Orthodox Detroit Outreach shares her story of a simple encounter which reveals how our Orthodox Faith is touching the lives of our neighbors. We encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ to continue to fight the good fight, witnessing our Faith through an active love for our neighbor.

A hot lunch is provided and served at Sts. Peter & Paul Cathedral in Southwest Detroit every Sunday afternoon by host parishes who volunteer with Orthodox Detroit Outreach and represent 15 of our Detroit area inter-Orthodox parishes. In the past year we have come to know 50 neighborhood needy and homeless folks.

Working with the poor in Detroit can overwhelm us at times. Thank God that at such times, He reminds us how blessed it is to be here, doing what we are doing, and finding Christ in our midst.

The setting is the inner city of Detroit, at the steps of Sts. Peter & Paul Orthodox Cathedral (OCA).
 

Leonard and the Sign of the Cross

Another 4 inches of snow!? Oh no... well, ok... I need to drive down to the Church and wait for the Comcast installer. “We'll be there between 8:00 & 10:00” they promised. So I plowed through yet another layer of new snow like most of the Chicago-Detroit-Cleveland-Pittsburgh-NY-Boston area has received this winter, arriving before 8:00 am.

Feeling cold, tired, and discouraged after another difficult conversation at the Church on Sunday involving a few homeless neighbors who showed up an hour early for lunch, I sat in my car with the heater on and waited for one hour.. .two hours... while listening to the radio and watching the few brave souls who were out that morning.

As I sat and watched, I saw a man shuffling across the street with a bag of returnable cans, a big overcoat and wild and windblown hair that could have used a haircut a few months ago. The man slowly made his way through the snow drifts and slush in the street. He crossed over to the sidewalk and walked alongside the Church hall building where he and the others enter every Sunday for a warm place, a meal, and some fellowship.

I recognized that it was Leonard, one of our regulars! I was going to open my window and say hello when I noticed that he stopped at the door, looked up, made the sign of the cross, put his head back down and continued on his way. I was so taken aback by this pious gesture that I remained silent.

Leonard sees something “holy” at the Church hall. Something that compelled him to gesture as he sees us gesture when we pray before the meal. Why did God have me witness this? Was it just a random coincidence? Or did God put me there at that same time and place with Leonard to witness simple childlike piety in order to edify and encourage me? I think the latter.