In Memory of Mike Dyle

Today Mike Dyle, a Marine Corp vet with a servant heart and a generous spirit, was found dead from natural causes in an empty house near the Church for All People. Those of us who have been with the church for a long time are especially devastated because he was one of our first members. Mike taught me many things about generosity and service.

The first few years of our church, Mike was the custodian, first as a volunteer, and then as an employee. A really strapping guy over 6 feet tall, he worked harder than any human being I’ve ever seen. For several years George and I hired him to do yard work and he was like a machine – he could dig a garden, haul mulch, trim bushes and carry rocks and gravel so fast it made your head spin. When he worked for the church he provided security, a really thorough cleaning, constant coffee, and a big gap-toothed smile.

Mike had not always been homeless. At one point he worked as a diver in Florida and had a home and a wife. He invested all his money in a scheme to bring up some treasure from a wreck and lost it all. His life went south; he ended up on the street. In fact, he found that having responsibilities was something he could not manage. At one point the church found him an apartment with a low rent. But he felt pressured to make the rent and overwhelmed with anxiety. He eventually was back on the street where he felt more comfortable.

These two stories that I shared years ago, say everything you need to know about Mike:

After Mike started working for the church, he began to accumulate a few items of clothing – some jeans, new shirts and so on. He found two pair of tennis shoes that fit his large feet. He was really very excited about this and showed them off. He was wearing one pair and keeping the Air Jordans as an extra pair. One day another homeless man came in. Mike asked him what size shoes he wore. Without hesitation, Mike pulled out his precious Air Jordans and gave them away.

Another Sunday, when I arrived before church, Mike said “Today’s my lucky day! I found a dollar in the street. Now I’ll have something to put in the offering!”

Mike had terrible demons. He was a binge drinker and used alcohol to soothe the fierce anxiety and depression he felt. He had an incident with the church and left our employment. He then disappeared for awhile but came back and began to participate again in worship and did many odd jobs for members of the congregation and Free Store volunteers. He helped out Tony who had subsequently become our custodian.

A couple of months ago I drove Mike somewhere after church. I asked him how he was. “Not good” he replied. We talked some more and I was really disturbed to hear him say “I’m really better off dead.” He owed George and me a debt of some money which we kept trying to forgive, but he wouldn’t let us. “I’ll tell you the truth, the only reason I haven’t killed myself is that I still need to work off that debt”.

“I hope you never do then!” I cried in alarm. I pulled over the car. We talked for some time. He said “God can never forgive me for what I’ve done” I tried and tried to convince him otherwise. I was, frankly, afraid to let him out of the car. He said “I’ve killed people, how can God forgive that?”

Now, I assume he meant as a Marine in Vietnam, but I just wasn't sure. I admit this statement took me aback. Yet, I KNEW that God could indeed forgive even taking a life. I failed to convince Mike but eventually he promised me he would not do himself in “yet”. And I had to accept that. We prayed together and I let him out of the car.

Recently Mike had suffered some health problems that ultimately hospitalized him. He had been out of the hospital for a few weeks when he passed away in the night.

Those of use who knew and loved Mike prayed and prayed for recovery and healing. It was devastating to see that he couldn’t beat the demons that drove him to drink and couldn’t fully accept that he was loved and forgiven by God, and by us. I know I felt a sense of failure.

Yet, Mike also showed me that I’m no different. I still engage in behavior (over-work, over-eating, anger) that is addictive and destructive. God loves me anyway. God loves me even if I never overcome these things in this life and even if I never accept that I’m forgiven.

God loved Mike even though he never beat drinking and had done bad things in the past. God didn’t ask us to beat the drinking FOR Mike. God didn’t ask us to exorcise the demons that haunted him. God just asked us to LOVE Mike. And we surely did, as best we could.

Although I am weeping today over the loss of Mike Dial, I am also joyful in the thought that he finally HAS overcome these things and is living in peace in the Kingdom. In fact, he’s probably digging a garden in heaven right now.