I Met a Man
March 19, 2018//
Topics to Dig Into
Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.Isaiah 1:17 (NLT)
I met a young man named Tommy at the Dunkin’ Donuts. Don’t spread rumors. We were only together 2 hours.
He opened the door as I entered, but grunted at my “thank you.” His body language spoke of frustration and anger. I sensed desperation and hopelessness in the way he roughly plopped his cup on the table and harrumphed back in his chair. His movements said “Now what?”
I commented that he seemed to be having a rough day. Yes, homeless for 2 years. He had spent the night in a jail cell after being found naked and covered in vomit, but thankfully not arrested. He described his attempt to survive the bitter cold by drinking nips to warm his insides, counting the minutes until the laundromat opened.
We talked over breakfast sandwiches until TJ Maxx opened where we bought clean clothes. Tommy was surprised by my kindness but I told him it’s the way God wants us to treat people.
Tommy tutored me on the highs and lows of street life, heroin addiction and trying to get clean with suboxone. He desperately wants to see his two boys who live with his mother in my town. We talked about making one good decision at a time.
Tommy looked like a new man as I gave him a parting hug. Sadly, an onlooker warned me “be careful touching people ‘like that’, they have many diseases.” I remembered that Jesus made a point of touching the outcasts.
Over the course of the day, an occasional unpleasant whiff from my shirt reminded me of that wonderful hug.
Are you willing to stretch outside your comfort zone to help an ‘untouchable’?
Love God by doing kindness to the outcasts. (tweet this)
#SeedsofScripture #kindness #lovemercy #homeless
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Spend a few minutes to plant a quick Seed. Or stay longer and plant a whole garden.
So beautiful Cathy! The seeds you planted in that wonderful 2 hour breakfast will carry into eternity! Praying for this young man!
Thanks Eve. I can't get Tommy out of my thoughts, nor should I. I'm praying he finds the recovery he seeks. I'm also thinking there were more onlookers who might dare to help in the future.