TAILGATE HEALING
by: Frank Schuster
Energy Healer
520-721-2456

The evening was dreary and dark with a light rain falling as I drove toward my destination – the outdoor feeding of the poor and homeless in a poor Tucson neighborhood. The program is a weekly ministry of The Giving Tree Outreach Program, a non-profit organization serving the disadvantaged. The director graciously allows a touch-healing technique that I practice to be offered at the event.

I had not been consciously aware of the rain until I approached the vacant lot. “What am I doing here”, I thought. “It’s cold and raining and no one will want to be touched.” I drove into the muddy lot and parked. Volunteers were serving a hot meal to 60-70 people. I got out of the truck and lowered the tailgate. To my amazement, two people got out of a car and came toward the truck. A woman got out of another car, took a wheelchair out of the trunk, helped another woman into it and wheeled her toward the truck.

Four people were gathered around the tailgate wanting touch healing. I stood there in awe with rain running down my face. My inner voice said, “Well, touch them. That’s why you came here isn’t it?” Yes! And I did just that. Meanwhile a crowd gathered to watch and several more wanted to be touched also. I don’t remember how many. Even the rain went unnoticed until the last one was touched. They were so grateful that I was there to help. I felt humbled to be there to help. I will never forget that experience.

Every Thursday evening I hand out flyers and wait for someone to come over to the tailgate, sit down and receive Touch. They always come – usually a few and sometimes many. Several watch from a distance. Children are curious and always play around the truck. They want to be touched and are more receptive to it than adults.

One boy, about 10, whom I touched regularly upon his insistence, came over one evening, sat down for his touch session. He often watched while I touched others. With a puzzled look, he asked, “Do you touch people for your job?” I said, “No, this is what I do in my spare time.” “What job do you do?” He asked. “I’m an engineer,” I replied. He thought for a moment and then said, “I know. You are a faith engineer. You give people hope.” I was speechless. Where did that come from? What did it mean? I finished touching him and gave him a big hug and a weak thank you.

The poor and homeless are disenfranchised in our world. They mange to survive, but they often have no one who cares about them as individuals, to look them in the eyes or touch them. They are so grateful to be treated like a fellow human being. Some will stare into my eyes while I touch them, almost in disbelief. More than one has said, You are like an angel. A few will give me a hug and say, “Gracias, gracias!” Most walk away in perplexed silence. One man said, “I came here looking for an angel.” Without thinking I replied, “It must be me.” He began sensing some relief in his pain-wracked body. “Maybe you are my angel,” he said and walked away.

There is power in a loving touch. Touching one with intent to heal is a demonstration of love and unity. No words need be exchanged in the process. It is beyond language. Touch is a profound means to self-awareness. It’s simplicity and effectiveness are inspiring.

Many months later, I was again driving to the feeding program in the rain. It was dark and cold. More than a light rain was falling. I was fully aware of that on this occasion. I didn’t really want to go, but I knew the faithful volunteers would be there serving the hot meal. I’ll just go there and check it out. Likely, no one will be interested in touch healing in this kind of rain. Besides, I did not have a raincoat.

I pulled into the muddy lot. Large puddles were everywhere. Yet, there were about 50 people getting food and huddling under a small canopy. Others took their plates and disappeared into the night. I parked and sat watching the activities and pondering about why this whole thing was happening.

“Why are you sitting in the truck?” my inner voice chided. “Did you come here to just watch?” I was jolted out of my pondering. I got out of the truck and walked over to talk with a volunteer. “Thank you for coming,” she said. “Well, I don’t think much is going to happen in this miserable weather,” I said.

I walked back to the truck and lowered the tailgate, not bothering to set up the light or hand out flyers. Within minutes two people showed up to be touched. They didn’t seem to mind the rain. As I began to touch them, I didn’t mind either. Then two more came over from the canopy.

I was fairly wet and ready to go home as the crowd was gone and the volunteers were packing up. Therefore, I closed up the tailgate and turned toward the door. I looked up and saw this little woman with an umbrella. She had large pleading eyes staring at me as if to say, “Will you take time for me?” She spoke no English. I looked at her, smiled and waved her over. I lowered the tailgate. She sat down and held the umbrella over the both of us while I touched her. I asked her in Spanish if she had pain and she pointed to the lower back. Nothing more was said until I finished the session. She smiled and said, “Thank you.” She walked away a little straighter and less stressed than before.

I closed up the tailgate and drove home with tears in my eyes. What are these strange encounters and conversations? I only know that it is a movement way beyond my doing. I am slow to learn. There was nothing to do, only to be faithful and willing.