Brian The Calvinist

Last night, I went to help at Room in the Inn (RINI). If you don't know what that is, check them out at http://www.roomintheinn.net/. Anywho, I had the pleasure last night of eating with Brian the Calvinist. The reason for this name is that when my small group from a class did our Kingdom Project, we worked with RINI. Most of the dozen or so guys there that night quickly discovered that we were a bunch of seminary students. As a side note, one other volunteer, and one homeless man somehow missed that my roommate and I were students and thought we were homeless. Back to Brian.
Brian is a Calvinist while all of us are Wesleyan. These means that Brian believes in predestination while the rest of us do not and he was quite eager to debate theology with us. I passed those discussions off onto others and spent the rest of the night avoiding Brian so that I wouldn't be dragged into the debate. I had been back several times before last night, and the times that I saw Brian, I avoided him and talked and ate with those who I was more comfortable with.
Last night, I realized that while other people were sitting NEAR him, they were not eating WITH him. I figured now that I've got a bit better handle on theology, I was ready to eat with him. Instead of debating theological issues however, Brian just wanted to talk. We told some jokes, then he asked about Dr. Kalas, our president. Apparently Brian has had the chance to hear him preach and even talk with him afterwards. He holds Dr. Kalas in high esteem. As I talked with Brian, I realised that we have far more in common than I ever would have thought. We were both born in Kentucky, we've both been fortunate to travel quite a bit on the east coast, and most importantly, we're both Christians. We've both also made mistakes in our lives. It just so happens that Brian's have led him to be homeless and mine have led to seminary. Brian is very eager to learn about God, but he's been turned off to church after quite a few negative experiences there for various reasons. I also felt ashamed as I talked to Brian because I realize how much I've always taken for granted.
From where I sit, I can see 4 different Bibles in 4 different translations, and I have a 5th in my car. Brian, on the other hand, has a small New Testament--you know the ones, many places give them out for free--that is quite beat up and well read. Every time I've seen Brian sitting at the table before we eat, that's what he's reading. While is interpretation may not always be up to "Seminary Standards," it's heartfelt and he spends quite a bit of time thinking about it. Here I am taking my education for granted at times, and he's never even had the chance to finish college. God used Brian to show me just how blessed I've been in my education and I should guard against taking it for granted or cheapening it. Also, I should be careful not to judge others after just a few seconds of hearing them talk. There is a lot that can be learned, even from those many would look down on.
On a similar note, as the men came in Saturday night, the women who had cooked started serving them. From the time the first man walked in until the last was at least 5 minutes. During this time, every man sat there with a plate of warm, and very delicious, food in front of him. Not one man touched their meal until we had prayed, even though they had come in from very cold, snowing evening. Most them also had not eaten since probably 7 or 8 hours. I was humbled to realize that I would have started shoving food in my mouth as soon as it was put in front of me rather than waiting several minutes so that everyone could sit down together, and more importantly thank God for what He had given us.
It's amazing they education you get spending a bit of time with those different from us...