A couple weeks ago I was leaving my mission, Shrine of the True Cross, and I was exhausted. As I was putting my things into my car I heard a voice nearby. As I turned around I saw a man with a great red beard and a mane of red bushy hair. He had a couple bags next to him along with a basketball. He was reading from the bible out loud. I went over to talk to him.
I asked him if he needed anything or if he was trying to get in somewhere. He then told me how he was trying to get into the chapel for some time in adoration but someone told him that he could not go in without an ID. He went on to tell me that he didn't have his license because it was stolen in Austin. Why was he in Austin? He was just passing through.
Bruce went on to tell me that he had been walking the country for a while, with his rosary in hand, and trying to make it to mass as often as possible. Why? Because he had not been living a good life. He worked for a trading company on Wall Street but he worked remotely in California. He was going from girl to girl, growing his own weed (legally), and knew his friends weren't real friends. He grew up Catholic. He picked up the bible one day and read the story of the rich man who followed all the commandments and wanted to know what more he could do to gain eternal life. Jesus told him to give everything away. The man left. Bruce, he figured if Jesus could die on the cross, he could at least do what he told that rich man to do. So he did just that. And he's been walking since.
I had never heard anything about needing an ID to get into the chapel. I do know that the chapel had been broken in to, and I'd assumed someone just thought he was trouble. So I told him I needed to get home but I could spare 30 minutes if he'd like to go to adoration. I'd go in with him. He accepted. So we went in and it was interesting. Here's this dude with a big beard and dreadlocks and another dude with all this red hair and a red beard. I'm sure it was an epic sight. People came in and gave side looks. One man leaned over after staring oddly at Bruce and asked him what his favorite scripture passage was. Later he told Bruce to look up some scripture in Exodus, and that he'd love it. Odd. As we sat there I peered into his bag. I saw his bible, other books, and a beat up copy of 33 Days to Morning Glory. He read his current issue of the Magnificat.
Afterwards I asked Bruce what his goal was, or where he was hoping to end up. He said he really didn't know. He's hoping God uses him along the way and that maybe I was part of his journey. He then asked if I could give him a ride to St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal in Texas City because he wanted to go to mass there in the morning. Thing is, he had mentioned wanting to go there earlier, so all through our time in adoration I was asking God to let me know if my thoughts of giving him a ride were the right thing...safe. I had total peace about it. I was confident this was right because I've been asked for rides by people before, to somewhere literally down the street/walking distance, and had zero peace. So, I gave him a ride.
On that ride he told me of his past life style, how his brother and father did not approve of what he was doing and that he should leave because they wanted nothing to do with him. We talked about how we as humans do the worst things to each other and how forgiveness is so important. I dropped him off, gave him a big hug, invited him to our worship night a couple nights away, told him of a possible housing opportunity, and I drove off.
I have no idea where Bruce is. I know he was hoping to make it to Big Bend National Park. I hope he's ok. I hope he gets there. I'm glad we met.
Pray for Bruce.
