This past November 17th, a group from our church had the honor of providing and serving a meal at Warren's table, the Episcopal outreach to the hungry of Beatrice. Here is some background information on Warren's table:(Written as told by Sharyl Schaepe, Beatrice Nebraska)
It was a cold Thursday afternoon in January, 1995 when I came to appreciate why it is important to feed God’s sheep. On this day, I was called by one of our nurses at the VA medical center where I worked. At the request of one of her patient’s, she was trying to locate a priest who had served in the military. I have served veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs for the past 24 years and as the Chief of Voluntary Service, I normally didn’t get this type of call. But on this particular day, I was filling in for the patient advocate and there were no chaplains on duty. The nurse thought I might be able to help. My first reaction was amazement. I could not believe I got the call. Me, a member of a church that happens to have a parish priest active in the National Guard, what a coincidence. I told the nurse I would see what I could do and get back to her.
Immediately, I called Fr. Don, my parish priest, and asked if he was able to come make a hospital call. He said he could and I went to the veteran’s bedside confident I could fulfill his request. It was there I met Warren, a Vietnam veteran who was dying; confined to the bed, listless, a shell of a man, but very much alert and aware of what he was asking. I introduced myself, explained that my priest was active in the National Guard and available to visit with him on Saturday. Warren explained how, when he was on the front lines of Vietnam, a priest ministered to him and his buddies. He said, “before I leave this place, I want to talk with a priest who served in the military”. I asked if he was baptized, he said, “No.” I asked if he wanted to be, he said “I don’t know, I guess so.”
I left his bedside knowing God’s spirit was at work, but unsure of how I cold help. I called Fr. Don, explained the situation and told him he needed to come prepared for anything. Warren and Fr. Don spent several hours together on Saturday afternoon. That night, a very emotional Fr. Don called to tell me I had no idea what God had put together. He said he would be too emotional to talk with me on Sunday, but he wanted me to know it was very special. Warren shared with him experiences from Vietnam that haunted him for years and with his nurses at his side he was baptized, received as a new member of Christ Church, given his first communion and last rites.
Later that week, a social worker who had worked with Warren for many years as he tried to readjust to life after the war sought me out to tell me he found Warren to be at peace for the first time since they met.
In the weeks that followed, Fr. Don and I visited Warren several times and he and Fr. Don shared with me parts of his story. Warren recalled the memory of being fed in a soup kitchen at a church in his home town in Nebraska. His mom was single and they were often hungry. Once a week, she would bring him to the church and they would be fed. He talked about his experiences and was ever so thankful for the priest who ministered to him and his buddies in the jungles and now he found comfort and peace with the priest who brought the gift of salvation to him while he lay dying.
Jesus loved Warren and His love was comforting.
On the day Warren died, one month after we met, again I found I was filling in for the patient advocate and was asked by the unit nurse to visit his room. A friend of Warren’s was there and she needed someone to talk with and help her get through the next few days. We talked awhile. I called Fr. Don and he was able to comfort family and friends as Warren was laid to rest in Western, Nebraska. Warren helped me appreciate the true meaning of God’s love. From the time he was a young child until the time he died, Jesus was with him. His love comforted Warren at his most trying times and when he was ready to receive the gift of grace, Jesus was there.
Warren’s story teaches us why it is important to feed God’s sheep. I am sure the church that sponsored and the volunteers who supported those weekly meals have no idea what role they played in Warren’s life. And I doubt if the priest who served in the jungles of Vietnam knows what Warren thought of him.
To some, Warren may be just another Vietnam veteran. But to the Beatrice Christian community, Warren is the inspiration behind us organizing a community-wide dinner table for those in need.
Warren’s Community Dinner Table is open every Tuesday at Christ Church Episcopal, 524 North 5th Street in Beatrice, Nebraska.
This ministry, sponsored by the Beatrice Christian community allows us to reach future Warren’s of the world so that God’s love can be shared.
For more information, contact Gary or Sharly Schaepe at 402-223-5538.
