Street Blessings Remembered

July 12th, 2010 5:46 pm CT

I just left a Memorial Service for a man by the name of Robert Eugene Pate. Robb died on June 12th of this year at the age of 62. The service was held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral on Poplar Avenue.
But I’m not here trying to write a Obituary or Eulogize Robb Pate, but to tell you something about what I saw, heard and felt at the service.

First, some of you may recognize the picture of Robb, taken by Robin Salant, outside the Manna House on Jefferson Avenue, and you’re probably saying, “I know that guy, but I didn’t know his name was Robb. I thought it was “Elvis.” And you’d be correct.

I first met Robb several years ago, I can’t remember where, but I remember the moment. I was having an absolutely horrible day, and this guy appears and starts singing some Elvis Presley song. Not only that but he looked like Elvis. Now, at the risk of being hit by a bolt of lightning, I’ve never been much of an Elvis Presley fan, but Robb brought a huge smile to my face and changed my day.

At the service today, I heard those moments repeated over and again in words and song. Robb “Elvis” Pate, touched lives.

One of the Readings at the service was “What is a Blessing”, which was written by Robb Pate. In the reading he writes about, “begin[ning] with God himself as the one who provides blessings on all of His children regardless of whether they are His according to both the natural and spiritual…”

His writing concluded with, “Remember one thing, though. God only has two gifts to give us (as I see it). First, physical life and, second, spiritual life through His Son, Jesus Christ. If we claim the first gift and do not claim the second, we have missed it all.” (“Door of Hope” newsletter, March 2010.)

I left the church thinking, how often do we walk on the other side of the street when we see a street person? Do we avert our eyes, hoping not to notice their pain, which we might actually share? What have we missed by doing this?

Robb was a man who brought his understanding of God and Salvation through Jesus Christ to the people through his entertaining way. Some might have ignored him, others walked across the street, yet a few were fortunate to see the mystery of the Holy Spirit working through this man of the streets.