This evening I enjoyed a wonderful, almost gluttonous, meal at Rafferty's. On my way home, I was feeling pretty miserable, which was probably due to the white chocolate banana pie I ate. Or maybe, the salad, croissant, catfish, and fries. Either way, I was definitely full. I was close to Berry Plastics when I saw a man standing on the corner on the left with a sign "Can You Help This Homeless Vet" I did what I normally do - made eye contact and smiled. A few years ago, I would have locked the doors and done everything within my power to avoid my eyes meeting his. But, that's not who I am now. And Goofy Richard told me that those smiles mean a lot to them, since there are so many cars that drive by and pay them no mind. I got a nudge, no a 2x4 upside the head, that I needed to turn back around and get him some McDonalds. I had $3 cash (plus some change I keep in the truck), and $4.55 on my Ivy Tech debit card, leftover from dropping my class. So, I went back to McD's, got 2 McDoubles, a McChicken, and a $1 fry. It came to $4.32. Perfect. That means I have $.22 left on that debit card. I pulled out and got in the far left lane, hoping the man would still be there. As I pulled up (after locking the doors), the light turned red, which was perfect. I rolled down the window and held out the bag. He said, with a huge half-toothless grin, "oh, I've been praying for some food!" I talked to him a minute, wondering if he was getting services from Aurora (the local homeless service provider). He said he had a case manager there, but was doing almost everything through the VA. I noticed he was holding his sign with two hands, and in one of them he had his VA ID card. I'm assuming it was so he could prove to passersby that he was actually a vet. I asked him what his name was, so I, and you, could pray for him by name, and told him that I would pray for him. He said he needed that more than food. Both my Papaw and my grandfather, as well as my dad Jack, were veterans. I've been around people in the military my whole life. Now, I don't know this guy's situation at all. But, he's a vet. And, it's almost September 11th. Something about that makes my heart hurt a little. A man who served our country is holding up a sign for food or what small amount of cash people will throw out the window at him. I'm sure there's a reason he's homeless - there always is. But that doesn't make him any less a child of God, just the same as you and me. So, I spent $4.32 and made him happy, even for a few seconds. I treated him like a human, just for a few minutes. And, I'll spend sometime this evening praying for him. It's my calling, my lot in life, to serve these people. And, I don't go looking for them - He brings them to me, or me to them.
I'm not writing this to make me seem superior, or have someone give me an AttaGirl. I'm just hoping that you'll at least pray for Ken Dilbeck. Or, the next time you see someone on the street corner with a sign, and you have an extra $4.32 and 5 minutes, turn around and run through the drive thru. You have no idea - it might change their life - and yours.
