Angel?

My daughter sings with a choir that practices at the University of Cincinnati on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We carpool with another family and Thursday is our day to take the kids. Nancy is off at a retreat for women and so taxi duty fell to old dad. Because it’s an hour and one-half practice, I always go to a Bruegger’s Bagel close by to enjoy a cup of hot coffee and work the crosswords. Last night as I was about to go in, an angel stepped out of the shadows. He looked like us, but I knew that something was different about this guy. He was humble. I had the sense that he was not particularly happy about having to speak to me. When he did speak, he said, “can you possibly spare a dollar to help me out”? He lacked the confidence of other people who ask for help, people I am convinced make a  living being”homeless”. He seemed a little embarrassed. I consider myself a pretty keen observer of the human condition, and I was convinced he was sincere. I said, “sure, let me just pop in here and get some change, and I’ll be happy to help you out.”. He kind of followed me in, and when we were inside he said, “if it isn’t too much trouble, could you spare something to eat, I’m really hungry”. I said of course. I ordered him a panini, a cup of coffee, and got myself a cup. I was curious to see what would happen once he had the sandwich and coffee. Would he just walk off, would he say thanks, what would he do? When I handed him the bag, he followed me to where I was heading and sat down with me. Here’s something. He ate like he’d been in public before. He fixed his coffee like I did and engaged me in conversation while he ate his sandwich and drank his coffee. As we talked I found out that his name was Chris. He’d been homeless for about six months and was sleeping on a porch. He was grateful because at least he didn’t have to worry about getting wet if it rained at night. He was wearing three hoodies and some insulated sweat pants. He had a ragged old pair of gloves and I knew he was fairly new at this, because he did not have a collection of all his personal goods in a bag or cart. As I listened to what he had to say, the central theme that kept coming up was what it was like to be invisible. He kept saying, “so many people who have some money, just can’t see people like me, who have nothing”. He excluded me, of course. We talked about rock and roll, growing up in the military, and what it was like to sleep outside in 40 degree weather. He asked me if I happened to have a blanket in the car I could do without. As it turns out, I did and was happy to give it to him. I also threw in a jacket that was a windproof shell, not so good for warmth, but superior for keeping the wind off.
I only tell you all that to say this. When I was walking in Spain, I read the book in the Bible written by the apostle James every night. I wanted to have an idea of what this guy was like whose cathedral I was walking to. One of the things that really stood out every night was this snippet: “If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day and  one of you says to them ‘Go in peace, be warm, and eat well but you do not give them the necessitates of the body, what good is it'”? This came up and sat right across the table from me. The time came to go. We shook hands and went our separate ways. Later last night when I climbed in my queen sized bed with a comforter on it, I laid in the dark and wondered what it would be like to sleep on a porch in weather that is just above freezing. Are you kidding me? I can’t imagine that. That has never been a part of my reality. I realized how blessed I truly have been for my entire life. Did I work hard to make sure I wouldn’t be that guy? Yes. But we all know that in this day and age many of us are only one catastrophic event away from being in a world of financial manure.
Winter is coming. While we enjoy our holidays, would it be possible for us to find some coats in great shape, make sure they’re clean, and get them to drop in centers. Can we buy some affordable blankets and get them there also. How many junk toys do we buy our kids every year for Christmas? Maybe this year, with our kid’s permission, we could take the money we use to buy gifts that have virtually no value other than being a gift, and use that to help some of these angels who are walking among us. If you know your sacred writing, you will recall that we are cautioned to be good to strangers, for many have entertained angels unawares.
In case you’re curious, I insist on calling this man an angel, not because of anything he possessed or “magic” he did, but because he reminded me of how blessed I am, and how important it is to be a blessing to others. As we were talking he actually said to me, “I wake up every day glad to be alive. I thank God”. Sounded very familiar to me. I call him an angel, because after the last couple of weeks, I am convinced that ‘He who cannot be known’, sent him to bless me, and remind me that while I am alive, I am expected to be helpful.

Keep your eyes open. they are all around.

Thanks for listening.

3 thoughts on “Angel?

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  2. My daughter used to be in that choir! Killed many of those 90 minute waits just walking around campus and the neighborhood. The Clifton library is a nice stop too. I could never drink coffee that late in the day!

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