MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE

I was coming around the half circle of folks standing by the delivery van, waiting to receive the food we had for them from Food For Others. There sat a man, obviously in poor health, with the look of what some would describe as “the poor” – those suffering from poor health, down on their luck. He was sitting on the back of his walker. His skin color was yellowish, and his clothes were dirty. When I reached him with the food, I further noted that his teeth were stained and some were missing. He was quite feeble. But he looked into my eyes, smiled and said, “Thank you.”

It immediately struck me: Tonight, I was looking into the eyes of Christ. Here was the image of God. As I handed him milk, eggs, bread and other staples that we happened to have that night, I was joyful. The Christian Believer class I facilitate had recently completed the lesson on “Humankind: Made in God’s Image.” I realized that not only was I helping someone who desperately needed the help, but I was recognizing what John Wesley meant when he said that God created us in “righteousness and true holiness.”

God was showing me that this man, as pitiful and poor as he appeared, was one of His creatures, was a man created in His image. And I was beginning to understand: God created this man, this man who tonight was in need, just as he had created me, my family whom I love dearly, my friends with whom I go to church and journey in faith and each of the folks I come into contact as I go about my life. God created all people, not just some fortunate few or some that seem righteous.

This night I was given a gift of insight and a gift of serving persons created by God. How can I ever again look at another person and not think of God? What a joy.

— Ed Frederico

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist