Irwin is sitting on the right side I think Irwin looks a lot like Jesus. Not the Jesus hanging from rearview mirrors or even painted in stain glass but the image of Jesus as a carpenter or a boy sitting in the temple, listening. Irwin has the most gentle spirit with no fear of rebuke. Every time I sit and talk with him I find my view of the world challenged. One example of this is yesterday in the park there was a street preacher. Not the "turn or burn" kind, this man was simply quoting scripture. He stood proclaiming the Word, not his opinion. I saw people walking by or just ignoring him. I thought "This guy is wasting his time," I asked Irwin what he thought of the man. He said "No, no, no one is wasting their time speaking God's words. Maybe someone will hear just one word that makes them think. Then it is all worth it." he continued. I walked off pondering what he'd said. When I walked back by Irwin was sitting and listening to the man. He looked up at me and said "Sometimes it's good to listen. You never know what God wants to teach you or who he'll use to teach it to you. I played a game of chess under the peaceful blanket that came from scripture flowing through the breeze. I looked up when the noise stopped, the man was sitting next to Irwin, the rain was starting to fall. Irwin offered me his umbrella, willing to get himself wet. The street preacher looked up at me and said "What are you doing out here?" "Learning to play chess I said." "No, really, why are you out here?" he replied. "Because I love Jesus and Jesus loves people so I am loving the people He loves with the love he's loved me. Then the three of us sat there for a while in the park as the rain fell. I think that's what Selah feels like.
