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the street angel
by WilloWSnapperPublished Jul. 4, 2008
The street angel
So, you can tell by my writings that I am a person of get off your azz and get to work, make good choices and you won't fail, you can provide, I don't believe in welfare either.
This past Sunday my pastor preached on prejudice and to try and connect with someone you normally wouldn't. So today as I was in the Mcdonalds drive thru getting a drink, I notice Roger the homeless man who sits on Harrison and lives in the woods off the 40 exit. Yes I know his name, he attends my church but I've never talked to him but I have given him a dollar before where he sits with his sign.
Now I did have an alterior motive, I want to take his picture, hubby says I need to branch out of my comfort zones, and homelessness is one of them. So I drove over there, he stayed seated cause he does have leg problems due to alchoholism. He reaches up and says thank you at the few dollars I give him.
His eyes capture me into a moment of stillness. I say to him, you go to Hope right ? He says yes and his brilliant blue eyes light up. He looks up at me and says, " You know so many people pass me, they pretend not to see me, even people who attend Hope, I recognize some and they don't even stop ..." he stops, I can tell he is upset or just at a loss for words.
I reply, " you know sometimes things in our lives don't seem fair or right but GOD knows where we need to be, 2 yrs ago my son was diagnosed with autism, I thought our lives were over but you know, it has been the BIGGEST blessing in our life to have him with autism. If it weren't for HOPE I would've lost my hope a long time ago. I know you'll be okay.
He took my hand in his and squeezed it and smiled. I then explained I was a budding photographer and if I could take his pic, he snickers and says " Im wanted by the FBI ! "
I smile and tell him to have a good holiday, he smiles with those bright blue eyes and says " I will you see Sunday "
I pulled away, in my side mirror he was watching me pull away and the smile on his face just made me feel different inside. I smiled and shed a few tears on the way home,, I don't know why but that 5 minute exchange where I connected with someone I would normally not speak with effected me.
GOD always puts you where you need to be even when it seems bad or you don't want to be there. Today GOD put rogers there in that heat and my unhealthy desire for sweet tea and our paths crossed, the future soccer mom and the street angel.
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July 5, 2008 2:42 a.m.
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July 5, 2008 12:05 a.m.
July 4, 2008 11:48 p.m.
July 4, 2008 11:45 p.m.
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July 4, 2008 11:43 p.m.
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July 4, 2008 11:39 p.m.
GOLO member since December 11, 2007
July 4, 2008 10:27 p.m.
He felt NO remorse at the time, saying those that gave money did it for themselves to feel good about themselves, because they knew what he and his girl were going to spend it on.
He thought that people who gave him food did it for love, so for which he would drop to his knees and eat like he was starving, although he had eaten his fill at O'Brians earlier. That bothered him, taking food. He gave tips for jobs to other people.
He could have gone to the mission downtown and gotten into a program, but that meant no girlfriend with him, and rules, as in curfews and no drugs.
I don't know who picks your guy up from the corner and brings him to church, but you can do that, or bring others, for Sunday morning is not a great morning for street people, nor when it rains.
Churches do a lo
GOLO member since January 20, 2008
July 4, 2008 10:25 p.m.
July 4, 2008 10:25 p.m.
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