The first time we met, he was in an alley, and very drunk. He yelled at me to go home. “Go home” he said, “We don’t want you here!” and I replied,  “I’m sorry you feel that way, but I’m staying.”

Rather than deter me, he worked his way into my heart.

I know one shouldn’t have favorites, but my list of favorites seems to keep growing every week and he is way up there at the top. Maybe because he had tried so hard to reject me–maybe because I could see beyond the wall of pain.

He’s one of our veterans . . .

living and trying to cope on the streets, along with many many others; vets and non-vets, men, women and children, stuck in that same relentless trap.

I had been reading an article about a group that was feeding the homeless in a park. They had started during Covid and were now going to continue, by moving to a local shelter for the winter. When they found out that if one doesn’t stay at the shelter, they can’t eat there, they continued serving at both–faithfully, all year long. The Lord weighed in, as I read the article, and spoke to me, “The people they serve are much like the prisoners you write for.” When I agreed, He continued. “Then why don’t you go help them.” It was more of a statement than a question and I didn’t hesitate.

“Ok!”

I sent them an email and they graciously opened their hearts to me, inviting me to ‘give it a try’ that week. I never looked back. It has been my favorite night of the week ever since, and a tremendous gift to serve such appreciative, wonderful guests!

So this ‘belligerent’ guy became my friend that I saw only once a week. When he isn’t drinking he is a sweet, gentle soul. It’s the vodka that made him mean, but it really wasn’t that was it? The vodka was his means of coping with a life out of control. A life that had become too hard to face without it. It was vodka that he reached for when his heart just couldn’t bear it anymore. I hear so many criticize the homeless, and give their mighty opinions of how they should be ‘handled’ or even not helped.

I wonder how those criticizers would fare if they tried even just one day in their bitter situation.

So, we got to talking a couple winters later, and I told him he was the first person I met when I had started. I related to him what he had said to me and I was smiling, not condemning. “I said that?!” he replied. “Oh, that d… vodka! I should never drink that stuff!” It wasn’t long after, that he seemed to be getting more fragile. He was very thin and having trouble walking–far too many years of hardship, out in the elements. I told him I was praying for him. He seemed a little embarrassed and befuddled at that. That season ended and I moved to serving in the park. He didn’t come the next winter which was a bitter, bitter cold one. I prayed that he be healed, warm, and safe. The next year, when he didn’t return, I asked everyone that knew him, if they had seen him; but only one responded vaguely positive; they thought they had heard he was still around. I missed him and tried not to worry, but continued to trust God–Who knows everything!

The Gift!

I think it’s been about a year and half now and this week I was given an incredible gift!

Running an errand on my way to work that day, took me down an alley I don’t usually travel. He was there! When he saw me, his face lit up! Maybe he was reflecting my own shining face, for I was so happy to see him–but no, his face revealed the countenance of a changed man.

We talked for a bit and he told me that he no longer drinks and he has been able to sleep. His face was now fleshed out, he looked rested and years younger. It was evident that his heart is no longer tormented. He went on to say he has been working, and is making plans to move back home in a few weeks, to where he grew up. If that wasn’t enough, he’d saved the biggest gift for last . . . the docs had worked him over and ran scans and tests, reporting that his liver is in excellent shape! He laughed and said he told them maybe they’d better run that again. We both know that after all that hard drinking, there is only one possible way for him to have an excellent liver–NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!

Our huge smiles matched this time as he said, “I’d better get outta here.” His face shown as he spoke his parting words to me–

“Keep the Faith!”

There’s no other way to go!

My friend knows Jesus–everything’s gonna be alright!

All Glory Be to God!

“He will care for the needy and neglected when they cry to him for help. The humble and helpless will know his kindness, for with a father’s compassion he will save their souls. They will be rescued from tyranny and torture, for their lifeblood is precious in his eyes.” Psalm 72:12-14 TPT

“He responds to the prayer of the poor and broken and will not despise the cry of the homeless.” Psalm 102:17 TPT

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 RSV