Remembering "Rev"
October 2nd, 2008


Last Friday, morning (9/26/2008) J.W. Simms, otherwise known in the streets
as "Rev", went home to be with his Lord.  He left his mark on us, those
that were privileged to serve with him in the streets, and countless others
that encountered him in a variety of ways.


Everyone has a J.W. story.  Last night many of those stories were recounted
around a small podium with two pictures of J.W. and a candle as we paid
tribute to him in the street.


I personally will never forget January 3, 2008.  On a bitterly cold night
(21 degrees) I watched as J.W. gave his coat away to a man named Red, under
an I-20 bridge.  J.W. didn’t have another coat, but that was J.W.  Later,
J.W. discovered that in the pocket of the coat he gave away was $30.  "I
guess Red needed the money more than me", he said.  In a nutshell, that was
J.W.  He gave till it hurt and the receiver always got more than first
perceived.


Here is an excerpt from that night as I wrote last January:


"JW and I returned to the tent with a meal and handed the contents to a
hand emerging from the darkness.  No face.  No eyes.  In the bitter cold of
the Mississippi night all I could see was a hand reaching out for help not
asked for, but offered.  It was a poignant moment.  The darkness that
encircles the people of the street conceals them from the view of society.
Many times all we can see, if we take the time to search the margins of our
world, is a hand reaching out for something.  We try to fill those hands as
Jesus calls and did so by example while on earth, but more, we try to show
His love and grace which the darkness flees.   JW prayed and we left. "


No one was more committed to go into the darkest places and share the
light.  He couldn’t suppress the burning in his heart to share his faith
and the truth he knew.  Some would say, J.W. was too intense.  Perhaps it
is us who are not intense enough.  He was a walking billboard to all folks
of the street on how God could use you no matter your circumstances.  No
matter how far you’re in addiction, despair, depression, hurt, etc, Jesus
could pull you out of those circumstances.  It was a journey in which he
had first hand experience.  J.W. had gone from being a respected preacher
to a homeless, ex-con, drug dealing and taking, man of darkness.  When
through Christ he overcame that darkness, he had a testimony and he shared
it till his last days.  J.W. was evangelistically engaged 24 hours per
day.


Last night we lit a candle and put up pictures frozen in time.  Images of
the man we loved.  The first cool weather of the season joined us as we
shared memories of our dear friend.  I wondered when would be the right
time to blow out the candle and load up, half not wanting to at all as
though I could keep him here with us in the tribute.  In much the same
fashion emulated by his life and death, the candle went out on its own as I
was talking with a homeless man named Mike.  It reminded me that we don’t
decide when the candle goes out and we would all do better to focus
on every day and the lives we can touch and be a part of for Him.


J.W. would approve of that sentiment.  How do I know?  He lived it.


The Scripture read at the tribute:


       Yet I am always with you;
       you hold me by my right hand.


      You guide me with your counsel,
       and afterward you will take me into glory.


      Whom have I in heaven but you?
       And earth has nothing I desire besides you.


       My flesh and my heart may fail,
       but God is the strength of my heart
       and my portion forever.


(Psalm 73:23-26)


-Malcolm :