Words for Thought

A man walks in "may I take your time"
what he meant to say is do you have a dime,
well, perhaps back when a loaf of bread
could be bought that is now $2 instead.
And what about the price of beef?
hamburger costs more than steak to eat.
what is it we are fighting for?
sure not the prices at the store.
Then go to the pumps and get some gas
prices there make you fall on your as...k..
some questions, can you read, can you write
how fast is it you are able to type?
before you pass a dime, a dollar or more
to that stranger walking in the door
see if there is something you may teach
some skills may not be out of their reach...
as he comes to you, you hold your nose
he has worn out shoes, you can see his toes.
but stronger than that his breath you do smell
the bottle you know he's been tipping as well...
so you reply to him "sure, my time you may have"
he opens a letter for you to read since he cant
the letter is for an agency helping him out
day and date do not match, what is this all about
you make a call to the agency to then find
no machine to leave a message, but it is lunchtime
you turn to the man and tell him to come back again
after their lunch is over then he smiles and begins
you've been very kind, thank you I will be back
till then is it possible to get a lunch sack,
see I have not eaten in 2 days or three
and there is nobody to get food from you see
I wanted to tell him to get food and not wine
but somehow I think I'd be wasting my time
maybe the bottle was keeping him warm
from all of lives elements, all of lives storms
so when someone comes to you and asks you for help
you may be helping them as well as yourself.
life does not come with a guide to tell all
and some things in life may seem very small.
but to someone else you may be giving them "gold"
if it is only for a moment your attention they hold,
the next time someone asks you for time or for food...
do you remember to ask "what would Jesus Do""
would he feed the homeless, give them shelter and clothes
even if to be with them meant holding His nose,
you know that He would, as should you and I
when this man left my office, I wanted to cry.

(there are many homeless on our streets, more than many of us realize. they are hungry, they are tired, they are seeking the kindness of anyone who will give it... are they all their by choice? no, and that is what makes it so sad... we live in a rich country with a lot of homeless hungry folk... )

As I look around me
What do I see?
Homeless and Hunger
Poverty
Politicians slamming
Each other in the race
What our world is coming to
Is such a disgrace
What happened to truth
Integrity
What happened to pride
And loyalty?

As I look around me
What do I know?
Homeless and hunger
nowhere to go
People closing eyes
Thinking it will go away
Where is our world heading?
When no one dares to say
What happened to hope
Love and Peace
What happened to joy
when did it cease?

As I look around me
What do I hear?
Homeless and hungry
Living in fear
Not knowing if tomorrow
They will be fed
Not having a home
No kind of bed
What happened to giving
Helping those in need
What happened to wanting
The hungry to feed

As I look around me
What can I say?
The only hope we have
Is to God we pray.
Pray for the homeless
left out on the street
Pray for the hungry
with nothing to eat
Pray for our nation
Love starts from inside
Pray for hope, peace and joy
To come over our pride. 

yesterday you laughed at me,

sleeping on the street

you stared at me from my brimmed hat

down to the shoes upon my feet,

you told me to get a job,

it was of my own choice

that I was without shelter

you said in a condescending voice...

I look at you now all alone

sitting on the front door stoop

as if you’d lost your last friend

sipping a can of soup...

I walked up to you

and put out my hand

offered to take you home

you looked at me

and in a low voice

I replied thought you had no place to go

I replied that is what you thought

when you had seen me stop to rest

you see my years are not so young

my feet are not the best...

I had stopped on my walk

sat down and fell asleep

when you had come along

Assuming the worst of me...

you are guilty, as are most

of judging and being wrong

when something in your world

does not seem like it belongs.

do not judge me by my clothes

or where I choose to rest a while

I may be the only one

To offer you warmth and a smile...

in this world there are many things

that do not appear just right

take a moment before you speak

you may see in a different light...

the world is not as it may appear

a suit and tie do not mean much

no more than a tired soul

should be treated with unjust.

so, the next time you see someone

resting for a bit

don’t just pass them by

It may surprise you if you sit...

share a story, maybe two

you may be surprised to see

not all things are as they appear

some things are just meant to be.

"Being a Christian is more than something you claim. I'ts something you live by and share with others."

When you see me walking down the street
Do you look at my face or down at my feet
Do you look at my hair all stringy and long
or my feet - with no shoes or socks on

why are my clothes tattered and torn
why do I cry like a newborn
why do I pray to God for you?
You have not a clue
Till you walk in my shoes.

Ma’am do you have                 

a piece of bread                                        maybe a place                                           to rest my head                         

I have just walked                   
my day away                             

when nighttime comes

no place to stay         

How is it that
in a world like ours       
folks sleep on streets     
or in parked cars
no place to be
no family
walk their day away
no place to stay       

A woman walked through the door today
She asked me if with her I would pray.
Certainly I said as she sat down
She asked me if anyone else was around.

It's just us two, will that be enough
She told me her day'd been going rough
That will be fine she said as she held my hand
Told me she needed to know if God had a plan.

I listened intently as she prayed and said
The words that will follow now stored in my head:
"Dear Lord, why is it that you have left me alone
I am hungry and the streets are my home

What is it I did to deserve this to be done
I pray every day to my Savior, Your Son
No matter where I wake up in the morn
I do not forget to celebrate the day you were born

And more than that the day that you died"
It was about now her words made me cry
"You died for me so that I may now live
All that I had, to You, I did give

So why is it Lord that these things come to pass
My cup is now empty and I sleep on the grass
I have looked for work but I'm up now in age
Do not have a resume to even fill up a page

I worked all my life for one place that is closed
My pensions all spent, I cannot afford shoes"
I looked up a moment, saw a tear on her cheek
Then she smiled and looked up and continued to speak

"I am not complaining dear Lord, though it sounds
Just want to know why there is no one around
I raised my children, fed them and kept them well
They do not seem to have time for me to even tell

Tell them I love them, I cannot call them by phone
Do not have them over since I do not have a home
You would think they'd ask for me with them to stay
They do not have the time, so it is to you I pray,

Dear Lord, I know now that you did not leave me alone
A kind lady here listened, so now please Lord, take me home."

(This is paraphrased to make it a poem, but the meaning and the words had happened in my office a few years back. I am blessed that she came; she gave me more than I could ever give to her. I did provide her a lunch pack and list of local food pantries... but could not offer her shelter, there is not a homeless shelter for more than 50 miles from there... we need to pray for the many homeless and hungry in that area; I saw many, and they each touched my heart, but this lady did more than that, she left an imprint. )

written  August 2016

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