I’ve seen him several times on my way home. He has all the characteristics of being homeless. It looks like he’s been without a shower for a long time. He has his own shopping cart.
Speaking of shopping carts and our musings yesterday regarding automation. The majority of stores in this town have theft prevention devices installed on the shopping carts. There are yellow lines on the edges of the parking lots. The sign says if you take the shopping cart across the threshold the wheels will lock. I’m curious to try it just to see if it works.
He carries his things in the shopping cart. Not that unusual. You know the place in a shopping cart where small children ride? That is where his Chihuaha sits. The times I have seen him walking around he does not seem to be in any hurry. He just takes his time and pushes his dog around in the shopping cart. As I said, I’ve got to meet this guy and find out his story.
5 Responses to “Someone I Have To Meet”
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August 31st, 2006 at 10:00 am
Before the city of Long Beach required a $1,500 “permit” to feed the homeless, we used to take a group downtown on a Sunday evening w/ a busload of soup and breads and cool-aid and spend the evening feeding, ministering to, and listening to the homeless. Very scary at first, but then I found it very interesting to just sit and listen to their stories and pray with them. They never seemed to want us to “fix” their homelessness, but they did respond to kindness and respect toward them.
August 31st, 2006 at 10:35 am
There are two such interesting people that I see on a regular basis. One is a man named Isaac who walks up and down Summer Avenue near my home. One day, we were in our local Krystal hamburger spot, and Isaac was in there, too. There was another man, an older guy, who just kept sitting there watching Isaac, and you could just tell he was itching to get at him. Finally, he said, “Why don’t you get a job instead of walking the streets and begging?” (paraphrased by me) Isaac very kindly and articulately replied, “I’ve never hurt you or anybody you know,” and then proceeded to ignore the man. I’ve thought several times since how much more of a gentlemanly attitude Isaac exhibited than did the other man.
The other is actually a member of our congregation. His name is Bobby, and I’m not sure what all of his story is or if he’s completely homeless. But he started showing up up at church and looked pretty scruffy. As he kept coming, his appearance started cleaning up. I started speaking to him and trying to make him feel welcome, as did a lot of others. Eventually, he was baptized and was very faithful in attendance for a while. Now he drops out of sight, then shows up again. One of the men led a prayer during one service at a time when we had not seen Bobby for a while, and he said, “Lord, we don’t know where Bobby is, but please bring him back to us.” I think he has a drinking problem that he struggles with. But I’m always so glad to see him when he is there. The first time I saw him after he was baptized, I told him how glad I was to have another brother, and he hugged me. Now he always hugs me.
At least your homeless person is not pushing around a card with a dog like Chipper sitting in it!!
August 31st, 2006 at 11:56 am
Your blog entry reminds me a sign I saw at the local high school on the first day this year that said, “Be extra kind to every one you meet. Every one has a battle they are fighting.”
I hope you find out what his “battle” is.
Peace.
August 31st, 2006 at 2:57 pm
Hey! Don’t be trashing Chipper!!
August 31st, 2006 at 9:10 pm
I cannot wait to hear how this all plays out!
Remember when Beth gave away her winter coats to that person she saw outside Safeway on Coburg? Tim and I do. And we will never forget it.
I would guess the person who felt a whole lot warmer that night won’t ever forget, either.