Prepared for Good Works (9/2012 article)

(As printed in the Piedmont Citizen, Sept. 2012.)

A few years ago a compelling story came out of El Paso about how security cameras at an office complex captured a selfless and unlikely patriotic moment. The morning after overnight storms, workers at Meti Inc. arrived at work to find the entryway flagpole down and the American flag folded neatly and tucked under the wiper blades of a company truck. Assuming vandalism, a police report was filed.  Eventually the security tape was examined and it showed an unknown man a little after 1:40 a.m. braving the storm to fold the flag military style and placing it on the truck. He then carries the flagpole off of the parking lot and up to the front of the building, and leaves the area.

After a few days of investigation it was determined that a man named Gustus Bozarth was the man in the video. He had heard the sound of the flagpole hitting the ground during the storm. He was an unassuming man who revealed his life mostly revolved around his 2 cats and a small TV. He revealed that he had learned to fold the flag while working as a security officer years ago.

Here’s the compelling part: Mr. Bozarth heard the crash of the flagpole because he was sleeping nearby, in a storage facility. Mr. Bozarth was homeless.

His story inspired many people all over the nation, and resulted in many offers of assistance for his well being. Sadly while refreshing my memory of this story’s details I learned that Mr. Bozarth passed away last summer from a sudden heart attack. Even though he’s gone, his story remains fascinating. A man who didn’t wait for a storm to blow through before acting. Some might have reasoned that caring for a corporation’s flag and pole was not their responsibility, regardless of weather or time of day. Some might even state that a man who could be argued as a victim of a nation’s failed promises and blessings should be the last person to cater to the symbol of this nation’s might. Gustus didn’t see himself as any of that. When asked why he did it, he simply stated that it was the right thing to do.

I’m reminded of the words of Paul in Ephesians 2:10 - “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God tells us that we are created to do good things, things that were intended to come to us naturally. One aspect I love about his verse is that the word “workmanship” is a translation from a form of the Greek word “poetes”, from which we get the word poetry. In other words, we are not God’s afterthought or leftover materials....we are His beautiful lyric. As His “workmanship”, we are His dedicated work of poetry to a dark and lonely world.

You are God’s message and messenger to the world. He created you to do good works no matter the circumstances of your life. His intention is for all of us to live a life that not only inspires others, but has purpose and direction. Doing good in a world that needs such noble pursuits. Doing good when there appear to be no personal benefits at the time for our actions. May we all give thanks to God that we are his beautiful work.

And may we all give thanks for human examples of doing what is right for no other reason than simply because it is who we are. Thanks Mr.Gustus Bozarth....long may a banner of peace and comfort stand tall in your corner of eternity.