The Mobile Loaves and Fishes Receiving Ministry, by Tommy Chiodo

The Mobile Loaves and Fishes Receiving Ministry

by Tommy Chiodo

Ray has been living on the street for a lot of years. He’s short and a little stooped, probably in his seventies, or at least he looks that old. All he owns is always with him in a rolling suitcase. He’s quiet and withdrawn unless you take the initiative, then he’ll reply with polite, albeit brief, responses to questions you may ask. He’s never very animated. Sometimes a small grin can be seen on his face. Often he quietly expresses his appreciation when given his custom made bag of food: two meat and cheese sandwiches (no pb&j), mayonnaise only (no mustard), plain potato chips, an orange, and cookies. He likes some varieties of candy, but he’s picky. 

Being as taciturn as he is, it’s not easy to warm up to Ray. It’s hard to get to know him. I began forging our relationship a few years ago when First Austin helped start the Downtown Alliance MLF network, based out of First United Methodist Church. Ray has always been a regular customer of that truck because, for a long time, he lived on a front portico of the FUMC building, or at least slept there, and MLF is his primary, if not only, food source. He’s no longer allowed to sleep by the church because that policy invoked complications that we at FBC know well, and the neighbors complained. Nobody knows where he sleeps now and he won’t say but he’s still a regular customer of the Downtown MLF truck. From the beginning I was attracted to Ray because he seemed so isolated – I thought I might get him out of his shell a bit, maybe let him know that he is seen and valued  – you know, give him some good ol’ Christian love. That is what MLF is primarily about.

If you have ever heard MLF founder Alan Graham talk about Mobile Loaves and Fishes, you know that it is not so much about providing food. Even decades ago, when he first started the mission, food was fairly easy to come by for folks who experienced homelessness in Austin. Alan and his fellow parishioners’ original intent was to connect with them by bringing food to them, rather than open another food kitchen or food bank. It was, and is, about showing people that they are recognized and valued; meeting them where they live, as it were. The ministry is about taking God’s love into a local community of people that don’t have much direct connection with people who care, and thus have little opportunity to experience God’s love through others.

Ray is definitely one of those people. I suspect that Ray’s reclusive demeanor largely comes from the environment he has lived in for so many years. Living on the street is not conducive to building and maintaining warm, trusting relationships, so for years now I have been trying to connect with him and reflect a little of God’s love, along with a simple meal. It’s been a long slow process but he’s opened a little. He’s shown a few bits of himself.

Here’s the kicker, after all of these years of trying to give to Ray I have come to realize that I’m receiving more than I’m giving. I now look forward to seeing that taciturn old man each month because God is revealed to me through him more than the other way around. Ray reminds me that I need love too, particularly God’s love.

If you haven’t already, come witness God’s love on the streets of Austin.

Tommy Chiodo