Homeless

homeless people fascinate me. for some reason, they've found a special place in my heart. perhaps it's because i'm a couple paychecks away from being there too. perhaps it's because Jesus was homeless. perhaps it's because i've seen people i love show compassion and mercy towards them. perhaps it's because my grandfather complains about them (as a general rule of thumb i disagree with everything he says: tiger woods, city parks, highway construction, etc.), or perhaps it's because i've seen amazing examples of love carried out by these homeless people.

over the past several months i've watched one homeless lady in particular on blanco road near my office receive food and drink on a daily basis from passerby's. she got a blueberry muffin from me this morning, she thanked me and placed it next to her taco cabana breakfast taco and pint of 2% milk. as i walked away, she carried on with her typical routine, feeding the pigeons around her with some of the bread that she had received. i see her feeding these birds on a regular basis, and it always puts a smile on my face. everytime it amazes me how someone with so little can still give...and then it makes me realize that i don't give nearly enough.

more recently, i have come across a homeless man near i-10 and fredricksberg road that will wash people's windshields for money. he walks around, glass cleaner and newspaper in hand, ready for anyone to waive him over. this man makes me smile too, he's not just begging for money, he's willing to work for it. a couple weeks ago i was over in the area and stopped at the traffic light where he 'works'. i waived him over, told him i didn't need my windshield cleaned, just wanted to give him a few dollars. he graciousy thanked me, looked up, said a quick prayer to Jesus and went about his way, looking for other dirty windshields. after he walked away, i glanced over to where he keeps his belongings, on a concrete retaining wall, in the shade of the highway above. directly next to his few possessions is a traffic sign directing all drivers in the left lane that they must turn left. written between the words on this sign by someone was the following, "stop giving money to these heroin addicts". reading that broke my heart. how could someone be so cruel, so narrow-minded, so heartless...

then it dawned on me... i use to be that person. i was the one who complained about all the homeless beggers with their cardboard signs looking for a handout. i was the one saying, "why should i give them money, all they're going to do is buy beer." i was the one thinking in my head, "why don't you go get a job". i was the cruel, narrow-minded and heartless one. so what changed? how can i love the ones i use to hate? why do i now feel guilty when i have no money on me to give the smelly, rude, angry man on the side of the road? why? because i've learned the power of grace. i've received it, just as we all have. none of us are worthy of what God has given us...we're all sinners, we're all beggers. but yet, He loves us anyway. you, me, bird lady and windex guy. we're all His children and we're all loved...