The Orthodox bum Valera knew all. First, it is clear that the Orthodox: was at services in different churches. He not only prayed, but he prayed. Secondly, because he knew how to work well: the hands of a man are gold. If there is anything to fix — from electrical wiring to sewerage — it is to him. They were often asked, and the money they received was no longer charity. Thirdly, because he was categorically drunk, and was often seen no longer at the entrance to the church, but sleeping on a bench in the city center or on the banks of the river — at any time of the year in a stinking coat, red legs in blisters and yellow drool in a gray beard. This kind, of course, did not presuppose communication — neither business nor secular — only prayerful, who succeeded. And Valera disappeared.
The first information about him after a long break brought parish talkative purses. And not so much about him as about “and remember Irina Ivanovna, she was still in the shop, and then she was fired, and she became a controller on the bus?” So she now lives with Valera, here! The old woman’s crazy. I always said that …” In general, another opportunity to spend a couple of working weeks in a bone washing workshop. Not boring and not judging, most importantly, no one. You could even say «in reasoning, not in judgment,» yeah.
The sobering-up came because of Tanya Basketball Player, a long-time parishioner of two meters tall, who became a casual witness to the rubbing of bones. Evil turned, slammed the door of the shop. Returned a day later, the eyes of lightning flash:
— Well, that’s it. I visited Irina Ivanovna and Valera. We talked. Now listen. He really lives with her. She brought him home herself. I picked it up off the beach early in the morning. She washed and cut her hair. Feed. Healing. Cancer. He has a fourth degree, and now he survives only thanks to expensive medicines, which Irina buys him.
She told me how Valera became a homeless man. He grew up with his mother and his father left them. Her mother drank and, when Valera was in the army, drank her apartment. The dormitory, where Valera lived, belonged to the factory, which soon closed. All the workers were kicked out of the dorm — Valera had nowhere to go. He went to church. I spent the night where I had to, and I worked for days, because I saw myself. When he worked, when he just asked for alms, it doesn’t matter. And then alcohol beat him. And then cancer defeated alcohol, and Valera does not drink — just screams in pain. Irina brought him to her house so that he at least died in a human way, you know? And there is no shur-mur here, and there can be no. What, then, will we “reason not in judgment” or, perhaps, pray for two suffering people and ask for forgiveness? Maybe you need to help — Irina has a pension of eight five hundred. Valera went to church — how did we, the church, feel about him? We said, «Valera, do this, fix this, mashed with sausage on you,» and to really ask a man, at least try to talk — it’s no, we’re busy, it’s «God will help,» right? God helped, but through Irina. Have a good day.
The door was not slammed this time – it came out quietly but quickly. Even a little squeamish…
Peter Davydov.
The Holy Land Charitable Foundation
Soul investment!
Orthodox stories from life
