By Marina Sullivan
The phone rings and I answer. Silence. A tentative hello, and then, like a waterfall, words begin to tumble into the air between us.
There is a tangible pull on my heart. I hear the fear in the voice of a mother, the worry of a father, the apprehension of a young girl. They all hope I have the answer they so desperately need.
The distance between us can be a few miles or the other side of Canada but when they reach out to me I can feel their desperation as if they were sitting right in front of me. I am a life line. I clench the phone tight to my ear and stare out the window as I listen.
The sun is shining today and the Mercy girls are outside. I watch them as I listen to the worried voice on the phone. They are smiling, laughing, and their songs of praise still ring in my ears from this morning. They were once on the other end of the phone. Their cries once tugged on my heart. Today they are walking out their freedom. They have chosen to overcome, to stand and to fight. They seized the promise of a life filled with purpose and God’s perfect plan written just for them.
“Yes”, I tell the voice on the other end of the phone, “yes we can help you, there is freedom for you, it is waiting for you, let me help you find it.” I direct them to our web site and explain how to download an application. The tension lifts and we both feel hope, hope for a life waiting to be saved, of a new creation ready to burst forth and break the chains that bind. I say a prayer of thanks to a God who radiates love, grace and immeasurable mercy that is too deep to comprehend. There is hope here at Mercy, it is written on our walls and I have seen it grow and blossom. I have peace for a moment…
The phone rings and I answer…
Marina (centre back row) with Mercy Ministries' residents and graduates
Marina Sullivan serves at Director of Intake at Mercy Ministries, quietly providing hope to those who reach out.
