Bruce is sitting under the stairs drinking a bottle of cheap wine softly singing Merle Haggard's "Momma Tried."

Bopping down the stairs towards the Sanctuary it stops me dead in my tracks.

Not because I care for Merle but ... it's not a typical Church moment.

The Church is three stories low in the inner city of Louisville, Kentucky. The basement's a colorful social hall converted into a hang out for homeless people ... the street level is the Sanctuary and Sunday School rooms ... and the top is apartments and more Sunday School rooms converted into apartments for homeless people.

Two stairwells connect the floors ... one in the front and one in the back of the building.

Sticking my head under the landing, there he sits ... hugging the bottle ... crying ... softly singing, "No would could steer me right but Momma tried."

"What you doing Bruce," I ask squatting next to him.

"About what?" he replies sucking snot up his nose and wiping tears from his face.

Busting into laughter I love his answer and to this day it's how I reply to the question every time it's asked.

Bruce once worked for Jimmy Swaggart but was fired for drinking.

Now he drinks alone and lives with me in the Church converted into apartments because nobody comes to Sunday School anyway.

"Give me a drink," I ask and he hands the bottle.

It's terrible stuff but I like Bruce a lot so we share communion wine.

"You missing your Mom?" I ask as I wipe the purple juice on my Church clothes.

"Yeah," he cries.

"Well, let's call her," I reply grabbing him by the hand.

"What?" he asks.

"It's just a phone call," I explain as he struggles to stand.

Staggering inside the office beside the Sanctuary, he struggles to remember the number but eventually gets it right and she answers on the first ring.

When she does Bruce is horrified thrusting the bottle of wine in my arms and whispers "You can use it for The Lord's Supper."

"Hey Momma," he begins ... "Yes Momma I am in Church" ... "I'm with the Rev" ... "we work together" ... "he's alright but I have to keep him straight" ...

Shaking my head I take the wine, have another swig and make my way inside the Sanctuary to get ready for the service that I believe has already begun.