RIP to a Homeless Guest & Friend

Soup Kitchens do not have tables on the other side of glass windows like many restaurants on Main Street. They are often in church basements or other discreet buildings and spare rooms. But inside, they are strikingly similar to "above-ground" restaurants: joyous conversation, expressions of gratitude and pleasure offered to the servers and kitchen staff, and all the bonuses that regular guests provide. Obviously, there are differences as well: homelessness (or extremely humble living quarters) and poverty being among them. But a sense of family is also very present at the Patchogue Neighbors Inn soup kitchens. It is my honor and pleasure to be the pastor of a church that hosts a soup kitchen. And it is my joy to volunteer there.

Therefore, it is with pain and sadness that I pause in my well-fed, middle class life to remember Chester, who was found floating in the Great South Bay yesterday. There was a sullen sadness among the staff and guests at the soup kitchen of the Congregational Church of Patchogue last night upon hearing of his demise. Chester had the appearance that might cause many of us to choose to ignore him. But he was also a loving, funny, witty and kind man. Chester was quite a character. Chester was a child of God. Chester is no longer homeless. And Chester will be sorely missed.