Daily Miracles
A Journey of Transformation
Working at the Center of Hope allows me to witness God’s presence in remarkable ways every day. I see lives transformed as He performs miracle after miracle. These moments make the challenging days easier and offer a glimmer of hope amidst the tough stories we hear.
One of my favorite recent stories happened a couple of months ago when I was working late. The pantry was bustling with activity, and I was in my office doing some desk work. Suddenly, I heard a loud bang from outside, which I initially thought was a gunshot. I rushed to the front reception area and discovered that it was just a truck backfiring. However, what struck me was the crowded waiting room filled with people waiting their turn for groceries. In the corner, a young woman huddled in a chair, looking absolutely miserable.
First-time visitors often have a look of discomfort and shame as they come to ask for free food. It’s a humbling experience for many, despite our efforts to create a warm and safe environment. Witnessing this always breaks my heart. I can only imagine what they have gone through to feel such shame for needing help. Whenever I see someone like this, I try to make it a little easier for them.
When a seat next to the young woman became available, I sat down and introduced myself. As I suspected, this was her first time visiting the pantry. I tried to make small talk to put her at ease, telling her about the various services we offer. She mentioned she was exhausted, frustrated, and afraid because she had been job hunting for days without success. I was surprised, as she seemed like someone who would be a great hire—well-spoken and competent. She then revealed that she didn’t have a car and had been job hunting on foot. Moreover, she had recently been released from prison and couldn’t find anyone willing to hire a felon.
She openly shared her story about the incident that led to her serving three years in prison. My intuition told me to believe in her. She had worked in an industry we knew well, and it turned out we had connections with an owner of multiple locations in that industry. Although she had already applied there and been turned down, I decided to text the business owner. The conversation went something like this:
Me: “Do you hire felons?” Him: “Let me guess, you have a felon you believe in?” Me: “Yes, I just met her, but she seems great.” Him: “For you, yes, I’ll hire a felon. Tell her to come for an interview this Friday at 10 am.”
Her reaction, when I told her about the interview, was priceless—shock, confusion, disbelief, and then pure joy. It was AWESOME!
She went to the interview and started her new job the following Monday. She’s been there a couple of months now and is being trained for a management position. Her employer says she’s doing a great job. The sad but good part of this story is that I don’t get to see her often anymore because she no longer needs to use the food pantry. She’s financially stable and thriving.
When people come to the Center of Hope, they might think they are coming for food, diapers, or counseling, but what we truly aim to give them is HOPE. We desire to see those we serve move on to live self-sufficient, happy, healthy lives. There’s nothing particularly special or unique about us who serve here—we don’t have magic formulas or advanced degrees. But we know that God loves all His children, and He’s a good Father. We’ve been blessed with amazing resources and community partners who are willing to give someone a shot when the rest of the world won’t, like the business owner in this story.
All I can say is God is good, and I love my job!
Hope Journal
