Practically Loving the Unlovely

“It is the spirit captured in a story told by Tony Campolo. He had flown into Honolulu and was unable to sleep, so he ventured into an all-night diner, where he overheard a group of prostitutes talking. One mentioned to here friends that the next day was here thirty-ninth birthday. Another replied scornfully, “What do you want? A birthday party?” She retreated into her defensive shell: “I’ve never had one in my whole life. Why should I expect one now?” It struck Campolo that it would be a good idea to conspire with the owner of the diner to throw her a surprise party the next night. A cake was baked and all was prepared. The cries of ‘Happy Birthday!’ from her small group of friends and this stranger left her stunned. She was shocked that anyone would go to this much trouble just for her. She asked if she could take the cake home and then left with her prize. When she left, Campolo offered to pray and prayed for her salvation, for her life to change, and for God to be good to her. The prayer startled the owner, who asked antagonistically, ‘You never told me you were a preacher. What kind of church do you belong to?’ He responded that he belonged to a church that threw birthday parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning.”

- David Garland