Panama Red, washing Jesus' feet, and me
What we share in common: Grace
My recent post on Your Life with God
“Will you sing with me?”
As we were winding down, I heard my name.
“Carrie” - I looked around to see Panama Red sitting on a hill some distance from the gathering.
“Carrie, come here.”, he said in a firm voice. I headed down with curiosity. Panama always had a joke or a story to share.
“What's happening, Panama?”
“Will you sing with me?”
Yes, his name was Panama Red.
He had lived around Golden Gate Park in San Francisco for many years. Legend had it that he was the inspiration for a certain piece of art designed by the band, The Grateful Dead. With one large foot in front of the other, his likeness stepped toward the words, “Keep on Truckin”. These words were seen on the back of cars as bumper stickers for decades after the late 60s. When I met him during my first summer in San Francisco, Panama was older and moved a bit slower, but his head and face were still full of red hair and his formidable presence was felt throughout the park and the streets.
In the Episcopal church, there was a program we had to go through between our first and second years of seminary called Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). This was designed to give us experience in pastoral ministry. Based out of UC San Francisco’s teaching hospital, I spent those six weeks in a program setup to be with a homeless community. We were assigned to an area of San Francisco famous for its role in the peace movement in the 1960s. Each day by 11 AM, we joined others on the sidewalks crossing Haight-Ashbury and into Golden Gate Park.
Early in our training, our supervisor instructed that we be on the lookout for a person or people who acted as chaplains in this homeless community. It was not long before all of us had met one of these chaplains.
It was Panama Red. For those who were interested, each morning, he would begin his day by leading a Bible study. It was an important event for many people in the park.
He was not a man with training or degrees. In certain settings, his presence and offering might be questioned… was he truly worthy?
I couldn't help but be reminded of Panama Red while reading the Gospel story of the woman washing Jesus’ feet…
Luke 7:36-39; 44-50
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.’
Then turning towards the woman, he said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little.’
Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’
And he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’
This story in Luke's gospel is also found in the other three gospels. Not all the versions are the same, but it is clear an important lesson was intended as it was told and retold.
Whatever this woman had done defining her as a sinner did not stop her from approaching Jesus to care for him with great love.
Her actions were brave and humble.
One Friday afternoon in Golden Gate Park, the chaplains in my program decided to organize a time to sing together. Music seemed always to lift spirits. There was no shortage of musicians or instruments. As we were introduced to one of Janis Joplin's original guitarists, it was evident we would never know who was going to show up next!
The afternoon was filled with laughter and a sense of community. It was one of those few times when I could feel a different energy among us. For an instant, everyone seemed raised above their struggles and concerns, just high enough to experience hope and relief.
As the event was winding down, Panama Red called out to me from a hill, some distance away from the gathering.
“Carrie, come here.”, he said in a firm voice. I headed over with curiosity. Panama always had a joke or a story to share.
“What's happening, Panama?” I asked.
“Will you sing with me?”
This was unexpected.
"Of course, what would you like the sing?" I asked with some apprehension thinking I might not know the words to his song of choice.
"I’d like to sing Amazing Grace.”
And so the song began. ‘Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound to save a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found; was blind, but now I see.’
Each word echoed a call drawing us closer to one another.
His heart was open and his emotions deep. I sensed his desire to be forgiven. I knew for that brief moment he had called me to be his chaplain. There was no request for prayer, no need to talk – the simple verse was all that was needed.
