The weather looks different
when your friend lives in the park
the rain falls harder
the wind blows colder
the sun beats nearer
the heat burns hotter
the cold chills deeper
When your friend lives in the park
the weather looks different
homeless
“A Couch that Speaks”
breathing
peace
sounds from the couch
what’s God doing to my heart
breathing
asleep
restful break from the park
a home to feel comfortable in
breathing
snoring
in clean clothes with a shave
another night spent in warmth
breathing
serenity
being accepted as-is
being loved and spoiled with food
breathing
resting
once a boy, now old man
a son and a father to others
breathing
coughing
life’s taken its toll
health that seems to be weak
breathing
waking
to realize time’s passed
the park awaits his presence
breathing
peace
sounds from the couch
what’s God doing to my heart
“Buffet of Love”
Standing, looking
all-you-can-eat
seeing choices
and being able to pick
a little bit here
and a little bit there
forms a mound
on the plate
when given the option
of chair or booth
he gladly said booth
for the cushion
when a man who lives outside
sits on a cushion
something happens
when a man without food
enjoys all-you-can-eat
something happens
when a man without a bed
sleeps on a couch
something happens
when a man without a home
takes a warm shower
something happens
Living without limits
Loving without boundaries
becoming like the One
Who lives in me
A Weekend Getaway
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
When Money Runs Out
Yesterday, God had more than one encounter lined up for me, but the one I’ll share with you now is the one with Lee. When I walked up to him, he was asleep, slumped in his chair. I’m so glad he has a chair to be slumped in, but at the same time, my heart wants him to have a bed. I gently woke him, and he rose to give me his seat..such a gentleman. While he situated himself on the ground, I sat down, and we began to talk. Continue reading
Empty Love
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
Lee’s Hidden Laughter
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 Song in the Breeze
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
Being Watched
Yesterday, during my lunch, I took some time to talk to my mommy. It was so good to talk with her. As the time went on, we began to talk about my friend, Lee. She knew of him from Facebook and totally understood when I said good-bye to her to share with him a quick hello, which turned out to be an amazing fifteen minutes.
A few people have asked me how he became homeless. When I thought of why, I realized it wasn’t in my head anywhere, so I doubted if I’d ever asked him, so I had planned to ask him yesterday. Continue reading
Worship Flags and Infinity Scarfs 