My Friendship with Lee

A Weekend Getaway

| Laura Lee Bonde

Guess who spent the weekend with us?

Lee.

Last week, God put it on my heart to invite Lee over to relax, to feel normal, to be involved in family life…to just “be,” so on Saturday, after Nathan and Kyle’s flag football game, I drove to Balboa Park to pick him up. I was to meet him at our usual spot, where we hang out during lunch times, and when I drove up, he was sitting there waiting, already showered.

It was very important for Lee to shower BEFORE he met the kids. He said, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Continue reading →

Picnic with Peeps

| Laura Lee Bonde

Yesterday morning, right before I left for work, I packed food for a picnic: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, strawberries, chips, and some sweets. I packed enough for Mike but haven’t seen him the last couple days and knew if he wasn’t there, Lee would end up having dinner to take with him, and it ended up working out that way.

In the afternoon, as I approached Lee, I saw that he was reading his book about Bill Clinton. He wanted to rise to give me his seat but struggled to get up, so I encouraged him to stay in the chair, and I sat on a blanket at his feet. Continue reading →

Good Friday Cries

| Laura Lee Bonde

I am so glad I didn’t wear makeup yesterday. I was crying on and off all day…all of them good. What a happy bottle God has with my tears in them! Listen to how God is working: on Thursday night, I met a man who offered to do the marketing for my flag business for FREE, and yesterday, a woman called to order flags who is a publisher. I believe my devotional book will be available sooner rather than later. Anyway, enough of that. Let’s go to Balboa Park. Continue reading →

Digging Deeper

| Laura Lee Bonde

Yesterday, pizza lunch was great with Lee and Mike. We were all starving. Since I’m not homeless, I probably should’ve eaten a little before as to not devour part of the pizza, but I didn’t, so I ate two slices. It was one of the best pizzas I’ve ever eaten. Next time, I’m ordering an extra large, so we can all be full. Lee dropped half of his second slice, so I picked it up and brushed it off. If it was me, I probably would’ve eaten it, but he set it aside for the squirrels and grabbed another slice. As we were eating, we were talking. Continue reading →

Empty Love

| Laura Lee Bonde

Today, in Balboa Park, I spotted Mike sitting on the ground near an empty chair, so I knew Lee wasn’t far. I was glad to see Mike. That meant, if he WAS the person Lee offended, he was over it. I walked up, hugged him, and sat down. Soon enough, Lee joined us.

It’s amazing how they expect me, and I show up. I believe it’s a mutual gladness: I’m glad to see them waiting, and they’re glad to see me coming. We started chatting about politics a little because Lee’s reading a book about Bill Clinton, and Mike’s next in line. In chatting about that stuff, Lee went further back in time. Continue reading →

Easily Offended

| Laura Lee Bonde

Yesterday, I grabbed my chair and headed out to spend time with Lee in the park. On my way there, I thought about all the people I “could’ve” been praying for but wouldn’t be because of the time I spend with Lee, and God told me, “I have you there for Lee right now.” That seems so easy…too easy. I really enjoy my talks with Lee, and yesterday was no different. Continue reading →

Lee’s Hidden Laughter

| Laura Lee Bonde

When I first met Lee a few weeks ago, he was quiet, homeless, in the sun. I sat with him, talked with him, listened to him, and kept going back to visit him. Up until this point, I wasn’t quite sure what the Holy Spirit was up to, but today, everything seemed a lot clearer in my heart.

When it was time for lunch, I grabbed my folding chair to be able to sit with Lee in the Park and asked the Holy Spirit which way to walk, but by the time I got outside, I had forgotten and walked a totally different way. My destination was the same though, so I kept on going. Continue reading →

“A Homeless Heart”

| Laura Lee Bonde

When they look at me, what do they see?

a lifetime lived
a career fallen behind?

When they look at me, what do they see?

a dream of who I wanted to be
do they realize I have a name?

When they look at me, what do they see?

childhood memories
a family’s love?

When they look at me, what do they see?

the need for a friend
a soul crying out?

When they look at me, what do they see?

nothing
they look the other way

A Song in the Breeze

| Laura Lee Bonde

Yesterday in the park, we brought worship and conversation to Lee. As we approached the meeting place, Christine (my friend from work) and I noticed that only Lee was there. I had brought three chairs, so even if no one else showed up, we would be able to site and chat with him during the whole lunch hour. We were excited!

As we grew closer to him, I noticed his “luggage” was nowhere in sight, so again, he had his friend watch it, so he could have a “normal” afternoon of worship. Continue reading →