The Lord has sent me to comfort those who mourn...he has sent me to give them flowers in place of their sorrow, olive oil in place of tears, and joyous praise in place of broken hearts. --Isaiah 61:2b-3a.
Yesterday, I woke up actually feeling pretty good physically. The day before was the first of my infusion treatments (kind of like dialysis for my muscle cells). Anyway, I felt hopeful about my physical health for the first time in a long time. Before leaving for the trip downtown, I prayed that I would be able to bring hope to others. That seemed to be the thought that was stuck in my mind as the "word of the day". So off I went to spread hope...
When I drove down the off ramp at Alameda St, shortly before noon, a man named Willie was walking by the cars on the left side of the off ramp asking for change. I hadn't bought any food yet, but I did have some bottled water which I offered to him. He quickly came over to get one and said, "I thought I was going to die of dehydration. Thank you." I went back by a little later after buying some food and found him about to walk over the Jack in the Box (it was just across the street). I gave him a couple of burgers. He told me he was just about to go over to the Jack in the Box. He probably had just received enough money begging on the off ramp or was going to go begging over there. I had also given away a burger to a homeless man inside after ordering. He had gotten a taco. Yeah, one taco. They sell two tacos for a buck so you know he didn't have enough for even two.
The morning passed relatively uneventful. I couldn't find my friend Gary behind the auto parts store, but did find a couple of men alone, one on Olive (Juan) and the other (Ivan) in front of a store-front church called "The Promise". It was kind of ironic seeing him at the door steps of this small church with a big painted sign spelling out "Promise" above him. After giving him some food, he thanked me and wished me a "Happy New Year." I did find my old friend Willie on the alley where I had the last barbecue. I hadn't seen him since that time which was September 30th. He told me how the police had run them (Chris, Tara, Dave and John) all off a few days after that barbecue. Chris was now in an SRO (single resident occupancy) and he said John Mellon was too. Tara was still around, but not staying in one place very long. He told me which SRO place Chris was staying in and I plan on trying to see him there sometime soon. I told Willie to tell Tara I said hello and we would have another barbecue sometime in the spring. I wanted to give them something to look forward to. He was really happy to hear that.
A little further down that alley I saw 'Chicago' and not too far from there I found Allen on Olympic Blvd. I love helping Allen. He is probably the most unkempt man I see living down there. He never says more than an occasional "OK" or "yeah". If someone was to give him money, I doubt very much if he would venture into a fast food place and order something. I think that would be too overwhelming for him. If it was a street vendor he might be willing to point at what he wanted, but that would be about it.
I drove around some more with only a couple of burgers left looking for someone to give them to. On 15th St just west of Alameda I saw a man pushing his shopping cart which was about a quarter full of recyclables. He was on the same side of the street I was and I 'luckily' was able to pull up right along side of him. I called out asking if he needed something to eat and held up a brown bag containing two burgers and a bottle of water. He stopped and came over to the car to get it. I asked him his name and he told me "Pops" and that he was 78 years old, 78 is pretty old for someone living on the street. I immediately and jokingly said, "Is that all?" He replied "I'm about as young as you are." I had reached out my hand through the window to introduce myself. He was wearing some cloth gloves and they were wet, perhaps from picking up bottles and cans from the street. I said to Pops, "Let me pray for you before I go" and started praying. While I was praying he started crying and kind of groaning. When I finished praying I looked up at him and he was visibly shaken. He said, "Lord bless this man. Lord bless this man in a mighty way." I have prayed for many things on these visits. Sometimes its to find people who 'really need the help' or who are 'desperate'. Usually, there is some particular type of situation that these prayers are directed for and I have to admit that
God always seems to find a way to answer them. Today, it was just to find people who needed hope. As I left Pops, I couldn't help but see how this encounter fit the particular parameters of this prayer. He had accepted the food in the bag even though he had no idea what was in it. He seemed relatively happy and content just receiving the food. It wasn't until I started praying for him that he got emotional. I would love to see and talk to this man again to find out his story. It seemed apparent, that praying for him triggered some internal and spiritual need and hope that food alone didn't cover. I drove away completely wrecked at the privilege of serving God in this way. I couldn't have asked for a more clear and complete answer to my prayer of bringing hope downtown that day. --Until next time. John
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