Abstract
This essay recounts the story of a pastoral interaction with a man who tried to rob a local church on a Sunday morning. The individual had recently been released from prison and found himself in a position where he could not find employment. Lacking basic supplies and frustrated by his inability to take care of his family, he almost fell back into familiar patterns of criminal activity. Turning to a variety of sources, this essay reflects on the ministry of listening, the human need for emotional connection with others, and the eschatological hope found in the Christian tradition. In providing room for the narratives of those we serve, pastoral theologians provide a gracious space wherein the Spirit moves upon the teller of the tale as well as the listener. Together, we are transformed as we follow the path of God’s plot that unfolds chapter by chapter.
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