I should of posted this weeks ago....
The people of St. James Oakland invite you and your friends and family to join us each Friday during this Lenten Season for
"The Stations Of The Cross" starting at 7pm and last about 40 minutes
Except for Good Friday, each week will focus on a different topic to hopefully have you think and pray upon.
3/11/11 - "Stations Of The Cross - Debt and Jubilee"
3/18/11 - "Stations Of The Cross - Let's Talk About Race"
3/25/11 - "Stations Of The Cross - For A World LIving With AIDS"
4/01/11 - "Stations Of The Cross - Dedicated To ALL Victims Of War"
4/08/11 - "Stations Of The Cross - Let's Talk About Race II"
4/15/11 - "Stations Of The Cross Of Nonviolent Love"
St. James Episcopal Church
Corner 12th Ave & Foothill Blvd
Oakland, CA 94606
Parking Lot on Foothill Blvd between 12th Ave & 13th Ave
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Fishes and Loaves
In my travels, I will see people with signs that say “Will Work For Food”. I often wonder if these people are really serious, or just out to get money? Do people actually stop and pick these people's offer? How hard will these people work? Then there are the Day Labors that I see, who do get some work, but how much are they paid, and how often are they ripped off?
In the Bible story about Jesus feeding the thousands with fish and bread, I wonder how many of them actually came to hear the word of the Lord, and how many of them found out that someone was giving food away, and they just came for the meal? did any of them who heard about the meal and came just for that, actually have a conversion and began to follow Jesus? Were there any who were following Jesus who stopped once they were fed?
Going to different churches is an interesting thing, as I often look and wonder who in the pews are there just to be fed the word of the Lord, and how many of them are their to Live in the Lord? Many people think that because I am active in the church, that I must be a Christian and live my life totally in Christ. To be honest, I don't think that I do live my life totally in Christ, but I try my best. do I call myself a Christian? Yes, but at times my fulfillment isn't in what I do in the church, but what I do outside of church. Some of the things that I do are because they are the things that my ancestors instilled into me and stuck.
I was asked by someone to get involved in a group that was planning to do ministry. The ministry that was to be done wasn't about trying to fill up the pews of the church, but to reach out to people in different forms. Now when we gathered we had no idea on what was going to happen, but we would trust in the Holy Trinity to bring forth the ministries that we would be involved in through ways that we didn't realize it would happen.
One of the people had been doing a ministry that I really hadn't thought about, and that was packing bag lunches for Day Labors. He started this in his kitchen with 25 bags that he took out to where the people are. He didn't preach to them, but simply gave them a lunch bag. To his surprise, some of the guys had said that the food that he had brought them was the first meal that they had in several days. He continued with this for several months when he could, then reached out to people in his congregation, and much to his surprised found support from people. He then began to make the lunches at the congregation, and fed even more. After he finished talking about what he did, we quickly decided that we wanted to help, and now it is up to over 100 lunches that are put together and distributed. These are just a sandwich and an apple, but more. Some hard boiled eggs, peanuts, cookies, and/or other things. Also included at times are socks and/or a small bottle of hand sanitizer. We are now looking at trying to do this several times a month, because people aren't hungry just once a month, but every day.
Another friend of mine has started a program where the people of the congregation put together small bags to hand out to people who beg for change or look like they haven't ate anything. These bags contain non-perishable food that people can keep in there car or elsewhere to hand out. Imagine sitting on a bench feeling hungry and someone walks up to you and offers you something to eat. I wonder how many of the people who at of the fish and bread where like them? How many of the people who were given the fish and bread gave it to someone else to partake of because they looked hungry.
Several years ago, I was involved in a Nightwatch program here in the diocese. Now this wasn't like the old ones that occurred here in the 1980s and 1990s, but changes occurred to make them relevant to the 21st century. The earlier ones were OK, but one thing that I noticed about them was that when people talk about them, they always talked about how much fun they had, but never talked about what they got out of it. It was like they had gone to a slumber party. Something happened with the new Nightwatch that never occurred with the old one, that being the spirit of giving, and it came as a surprise.
The City of San Francisco in conjunction with some organizations held a rally each year in celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on his holiday. In this parade was a march of “Freedom Riders” who had traveled from San Jose and other areas and they would parade to the Civic Center for a program. We gathered the youth, had them make lunches and walked to the a point where we would join in with the others on there way to the Civic Center. But something interesting happened along the way to join the parade. Youth were asked for change to get something to eat by people, and you would give the people their lunches or part of their lunches. Most adults wouldn't give part, no less ALL of their lunch to someone looking to eat. These youth caused the fish and loaves to grow like Jesus.
But the fishes and loaves also represent other things in life. How often have you wanted something in a small amount, but have been surprised at how much you have gotten. How often have you had something that was only a small amount that you were amazed at the amount you actually seemed to get out of such a small amount? Look at the liquid laundry bottles in stores that are sold now. It wasn't too long ago that you would buy a bottle of the stuff and you had to use a bunch in your wash, but now you can buy the same size bottle and get so much more out of them if you follow the directions.
How often have you dealt with a small child and thought that they didn't know much, but have been amazed at the things that you learn from someone so small?
There is a woman who attends my congregation who is suffering from cancer. We hadn't seen her in a while, but she showed up one Sunday for service. I believe that it was right after exchanging the Peace, she came up and I believe thanked everyone for the prayers. Our Pastor came down and laid his hands upon her, and as he did, the congregation all came up and laid their hands upon her also as he said a prayer. What started off as a small piece of bread turned into loaves around her. This past Sunday she came in and she appeared to be much better, as she had gained weight and was looking stronger. Yes, it appears that the loaves are now turning into bundles of bread.
You may look around and think that you don't have much, but you would be surprised at the loaves of bread that you really have. Remember to thank the Holy Trinity for the loaves that you do have.
In the Bible story about Jesus feeding the thousands with fish and bread, I wonder how many of them actually came to hear the word of the Lord, and how many of them found out that someone was giving food away, and they just came for the meal? did any of them who heard about the meal and came just for that, actually have a conversion and began to follow Jesus? Were there any who were following Jesus who stopped once they were fed?
Going to different churches is an interesting thing, as I often look and wonder who in the pews are there just to be fed the word of the Lord, and how many of them are their to Live in the Lord? Many people think that because I am active in the church, that I must be a Christian and live my life totally in Christ. To be honest, I don't think that I do live my life totally in Christ, but I try my best. do I call myself a Christian? Yes, but at times my fulfillment isn't in what I do in the church, but what I do outside of church. Some of the things that I do are because they are the things that my ancestors instilled into me and stuck.
I was asked by someone to get involved in a group that was planning to do ministry. The ministry that was to be done wasn't about trying to fill up the pews of the church, but to reach out to people in different forms. Now when we gathered we had no idea on what was going to happen, but we would trust in the Holy Trinity to bring forth the ministries that we would be involved in through ways that we didn't realize it would happen.
One of the people had been doing a ministry that I really hadn't thought about, and that was packing bag lunches for Day Labors. He started this in his kitchen with 25 bags that he took out to where the people are. He didn't preach to them, but simply gave them a lunch bag. To his surprise, some of the guys had said that the food that he had brought them was the first meal that they had in several days. He continued with this for several months when he could, then reached out to people in his congregation, and much to his surprised found support from people. He then began to make the lunches at the congregation, and fed even more. After he finished talking about what he did, we quickly decided that we wanted to help, and now it is up to over 100 lunches that are put together and distributed. These are just a sandwich and an apple, but more. Some hard boiled eggs, peanuts, cookies, and/or other things. Also included at times are socks and/or a small bottle of hand sanitizer. We are now looking at trying to do this several times a month, because people aren't hungry just once a month, but every day.
Another friend of mine has started a program where the people of the congregation put together small bags to hand out to people who beg for change or look like they haven't ate anything. These bags contain non-perishable food that people can keep in there car or elsewhere to hand out. Imagine sitting on a bench feeling hungry and someone walks up to you and offers you something to eat. I wonder how many of the people who at of the fish and bread where like them? How many of the people who were given the fish and bread gave it to someone else to partake of because they looked hungry.
Several years ago, I was involved in a Nightwatch program here in the diocese. Now this wasn't like the old ones that occurred here in the 1980s and 1990s, but changes occurred to make them relevant to the 21st century. The earlier ones were OK, but one thing that I noticed about them was that when people talk about them, they always talked about how much fun they had, but never talked about what they got out of it. It was like they had gone to a slumber party. Something happened with the new Nightwatch that never occurred with the old one, that being the spirit of giving, and it came as a surprise.
The City of San Francisco in conjunction with some organizations held a rally each year in celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on his holiday. In this parade was a march of “Freedom Riders” who had traveled from San Jose and other areas and they would parade to the Civic Center for a program. We gathered the youth, had them make lunches and walked to the a point where we would join in with the others on there way to the Civic Center. But something interesting happened along the way to join the parade. Youth were asked for change to get something to eat by people, and you would give the people their lunches or part of their lunches. Most adults wouldn't give part, no less ALL of their lunch to someone looking to eat. These youth caused the fish and loaves to grow like Jesus.
But the fishes and loaves also represent other things in life. How often have you wanted something in a small amount, but have been surprised at how much you have gotten. How often have you had something that was only a small amount that you were amazed at the amount you actually seemed to get out of such a small amount? Look at the liquid laundry bottles in stores that are sold now. It wasn't too long ago that you would buy a bottle of the stuff and you had to use a bunch in your wash, but now you can buy the same size bottle and get so much more out of them if you follow the directions.
How often have you dealt with a small child and thought that they didn't know much, but have been amazed at the things that you learn from someone so small?
There is a woman who attends my congregation who is suffering from cancer. We hadn't seen her in a while, but she showed up one Sunday for service. I believe that it was right after exchanging the Peace, she came up and I believe thanked everyone for the prayers. Our Pastor came down and laid his hands upon her, and as he did, the congregation all came up and laid their hands upon her also as he said a prayer. What started off as a small piece of bread turned into loaves around her. This past Sunday she came in and she appeared to be much better, as she had gained weight and was looking stronger. Yes, it appears that the loaves are now turning into bundles of bread.
You may look around and think that you don't have much, but you would be surprised at the loaves of bread that you really have. Remember to thank the Holy Trinity for the loaves that you do have.
Monday, January 17, 2011
What's Your Sign?
I find this question funny, as I first started hearing this question being asked back when I was a teenager. Oh I am sure it was being asked by someone long before I was even born, but it was then that I remember hearing it for the first time. When asked, I would tell them that I was an Aries, and I can now remember people treating and thinking of me in the ways that the books would talk about that sign.
Now I didn't know anything about the Chinese Zodiac until I was in my 20s, and I looked up what my sign was under that, and discovered that I was born in the year of the Rat. I did more looking into it, and discovered that the Chinese Zodiac was closer to how I really felt that I was. So when people would ask me what my sign was, I would tell them Rat.
As I got a little older, I got to thinking about all of this zodiac stuff and realized that there is no real way to be able to lump billions of people into just certain categories. As much as I wanted to think that there was some reality to the stuff, the more that I realized that I was born under the one True Sign, and that is the sign of the cross.
At a company that I was working at, I would have lunch with a group of ladies, and because I had the newspaper, they would ask me to read the horoscopes. They would tell me what sign to read, and I would read it aloud. I noticed that many a time they would say how true they found the zodiac reading was for the day. They would always tell me that I had to read the Aries even though they knew that when asked, I would tell them that I was born under the sign of the cross.
Then one day I decided that I would try something. Since none of them would be reading over my shoulder, I wouldn't read the sign that they told me, so if they wanted me to read Aries,, I would read the Virgo or some other one. This went on for a week. I had to laugh because their reaction would never change. Then one day I had just finished reading the horoscopes to them, when one of them wanted to read something in the paper. I handed them the paper, and read some article. She said she wanted to read the horoscope of her husband's. As she read it aloud, one of the other women suddenly said it sounded exactly like her's. She then read the real horoscopes. The jig was up. I admitted to what I had did and how long I had been doing it.
I tell people that my sign is Christian because that is what I truly believe that is the sign that I was born under. I was born under the sign of the cross. It is the sign that I believe that ALL were born under. One cannot put billions of people under 12 groupings like the horoscope in my view, but the Bible does reach and describe every person under this planet.
I don't feel that God would want to just categorize us into just groups of 12, but wants us to be a category of our own. Just imagine if the everyone in the world was exactly alike... Just take a minute to think about it. Would you really want to live in a world where there was nobody else to disagree with you and not make you think about what you believe and not question yourself? What new things could come about in this world if it wasn't for our individualisms? We would all have the same thoughts, dress the same, do exactly the same thing? Could you imagine a world where everyone had the same faults as yourself?
I have heard people talk about who is and isn't a Christian based upon the church denomination. The Bible teaches us as says that we are all different, as we all serve different purposes in the world. Some will be prophets, while others are teacher and so forth. It doesn't limit us to all being just one thing, but many things. It is because of those many things that we have some many denominations is this world. For some, they need to services of the Episcopal Church to feel closer to the Holy Trinity, while for others they need to be in the services of a Baptist, Quaker, Pentecostal or another denominations church to feel it, then there are those who don't need to be in a church itself to experience what they need for that closeness.
If one looks at the Episcopal Church itself, it is a denomination of many styles and ways of doing things. You will find it ranging from a Very High service, to a low service, and it works for the people in the pews of each of those congregations. I am sure that if you look at other denominations you will find the same.
So the next time that someone asks you what your sign is, really think about how you should answer that question.
Now I didn't know anything about the Chinese Zodiac until I was in my 20s, and I looked up what my sign was under that, and discovered that I was born in the year of the Rat. I did more looking into it, and discovered that the Chinese Zodiac was closer to how I really felt that I was. So when people would ask me what my sign was, I would tell them Rat.
As I got a little older, I got to thinking about all of this zodiac stuff and realized that there is no real way to be able to lump billions of people into just certain categories. As much as I wanted to think that there was some reality to the stuff, the more that I realized that I was born under the one True Sign, and that is the sign of the cross.
At a company that I was working at, I would have lunch with a group of ladies, and because I had the newspaper, they would ask me to read the horoscopes. They would tell me what sign to read, and I would read it aloud. I noticed that many a time they would say how true they found the zodiac reading was for the day. They would always tell me that I had to read the Aries even though they knew that when asked, I would tell them that I was born under the sign of the cross.
Then one day I decided that I would try something. Since none of them would be reading over my shoulder, I wouldn't read the sign that they told me, so if they wanted me to read Aries,, I would read the Virgo or some other one. This went on for a week. I had to laugh because their reaction would never change. Then one day I had just finished reading the horoscopes to them, when one of them wanted to read something in the paper. I handed them the paper, and read some article. She said she wanted to read the horoscope of her husband's. As she read it aloud, one of the other women suddenly said it sounded exactly like her's. She then read the real horoscopes. The jig was up. I admitted to what I had did and how long I had been doing it.
I tell people that my sign is Christian because that is what I truly believe that is the sign that I was born under. I was born under the sign of the cross. It is the sign that I believe that ALL were born under. One cannot put billions of people under 12 groupings like the horoscope in my view, but the Bible does reach and describe every person under this planet.
I don't feel that God would want to just categorize us into just groups of 12, but wants us to be a category of our own. Just imagine if the everyone in the world was exactly alike... Just take a minute to think about it. Would you really want to live in a world where there was nobody else to disagree with you and not make you think about what you believe and not question yourself? What new things could come about in this world if it wasn't for our individualisms? We would all have the same thoughts, dress the same, do exactly the same thing? Could you imagine a world where everyone had the same faults as yourself?
I have heard people talk about who is and isn't a Christian based upon the church denomination. The Bible teaches us as says that we are all different, as we all serve different purposes in the world. Some will be prophets, while others are teacher and so forth. It doesn't limit us to all being just one thing, but many things. It is because of those many things that we have some many denominations is this world. For some, they need to services of the Episcopal Church to feel closer to the Holy Trinity, while for others they need to be in the services of a Baptist, Quaker, Pentecostal or another denominations church to feel it, then there are those who don't need to be in a church itself to experience what they need for that closeness.
If one looks at the Episcopal Church itself, it is a denomination of many styles and ways of doing things. You will find it ranging from a Very High service, to a low service, and it works for the people in the pews of each of those congregations. I am sure that if you look at other denominations you will find the same.
So the next time that someone asks you what your sign is, really think about how you should answer that question.
Friday, December 31, 2010
The Hidden Story Of Jesus
One of the things that i really enjoy doing is watching documentaries. I was on a site and looked at the titles of the religious documentaries, and happen to come up on this one. even after reading the description, I figured it would still be about something else. this is a documentary that I thin that ALL Christians and people of other faiths and beliefs should watch.
"As Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, theologian Robert Beckford investigates remarkable parallels to the Christ story in other faiths, some of them predating Christianity by thousands of years."
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Merry ChristMass
I hope and pray that you and yours have the Merriest of ChristMass and a very Joyous Kwanzaa
Friday, November 12, 2010
Love Thy Neighbor
Yeah, I know that it has been a few months since I last blogged about anything, I've just been going through some stuff and haven't thought about it, but I'm back.
A week ago I was sitting at my laptop doing some stuff on the Internet and watching television, when I had this suddenly noise of the gate slamming between the building that I live in and the one behind it. At first I thought that it was someone who had either just entered or left, so I didn't think much about it. Then suddenly I heard the noise again, then the loud chanting. Then their was noise coming from the front. I jumped up and looked out front to see a bunch of police vehicles. I quickly went into the chatroom where I was on the Internet and told everyone that I had to go as it appears that their was a riot going on in my neighborhood.
I grabbed my camera and went out front to see a line of police in front of the parking lot and hundred of police up and down my street. I stood there looking in amazement. Police officers, police vehicles, crime scene tape. One thing that I did know for sure is that I wasn't going to be going anywhere anytime soon.
I stood outside for a little but, then an officer said that I should go back into the building. I went back up, grabbed my laptop and positioned myself near a window. Yeah I will admit that I did become scared, as I had no idea exactly what was going on. I turned on the television and they showed short blips of what was going on, as my mind was blown away form the activity that I was seeing live.
The police came from different areas of the Bay Area, as they knew that something might happen that night. It was the day of the sentencing for the cop who had been convicted of killing a guy on the platform of the one of the local transportation systems.
Let me jump ahead in time.
After the all of the police had left, I went down to take a look to see if there was any damage done to the building. I got down to the corner and saw trash all over the place. The protestors had turned over trash cans, pushed a dumpster into the street, and even the police left trash. Three of us went over to the dumpster and pushed it back to where it belonged, then I went back and picked up all of the crime scene tape that they police had thrown into the pile.
Some people who lived on the block came over and we stood around talking about what happened. most of us didn't know each other, but together we began to clean up the mess, as we were not sure if the city would send a crew to clean up or not. I noticed some TV vans still there as we cleaned, and I just knew that they would only report on the events of the arrest. We got the area clean as best that we could, but it was dark out.
As we stood there after cleaning, I jokingly said to the others that it's a shame that the press could cover the bad, but when neighbors help each other to clean up after the events, they would be nowhere to be seen, as they had left by then.
I walked down to the store to get some stuff, and one of the owners looked at me and said that he had just seen me on tv cleaning up the mess. I was floored. After I got home and did some stuff, I checked out the local coverage of events, and sure enough one of the stations showed the group of us cleaning.
After thinking about the events of the night, Jesus' saying of “Love They Neighbor As Thyself” came to mind, along with the story of “The Samaritan”. I had just lived those sayings. Here were people who could of simply walked away just like those who didn't help the person, but they came and helped there neighbor not expecting anything in return. we didn't ask them to come and help, but they did. it was a great reminder to myself as to what I should be doing as a Christian.
How many times have we been in a situation where we could of helped, but yet sat back and did nothing. Yes, there are times when it is better not to do anything, but they are really few and far apart in the whole skeem of things. I think back in my life and remember those times that I in a way took the easy road and did nothing. haven;t we all done that at some point in our life. We also must remember those times where we each needed help and others did nothing to help us.
What have we done by just walking away and done nothing? Who have we harmed in our actions like this? But also, how much have we also hurt ourselves be refusing the help when it is offered? Why do you and I let our egos get into the way from accepting the help that is offered? Why do we say one thing, but yet do another? How are each of us loving our neighbor love themselves, and how are we really honoring the Holy Trinity when we don't but yet know that we can?
I as each of you to do something. I am sure that each of you have seem or know someone that is homeless. The Holiday Season is coming up upon us. Go out and buy something for that person and give it to them on December 25th. “But, I gotta buy this, that or the other for someone...” I am sure you are saying in your mind, along with “Well, I'll let someone else do that...” Be a Neighbor and a Good Samaritan to someone that could really use some joy into there life.
Monday, September 6, 2010
The Dollar Menu
There was a story out here about a local McDonald's that stopped selling the $1 menu. People are upset because it means that the homeless people can't go in and buy something for a dollar. For a split second I got that “so what?” thoughts, then I began to think about it.
Now the owner of the place had sent a note explaining why, and they had a very good reason. The more that I thought about it, the more that I want to applaud McDonald's for even making that offer in most of it's stores. Yeah I have been in some of the stores where there was homeless people, but I realized that with these menus they are able to get food into there bodies. Oh I am sure that some will say that it's not Healthy Food, but when I go into the Health Food Stores, the prices are so high that I am sure that many of the people who are living a homeless lifestyle can't afford the food that they these places sell. These people are Hungry, and I really don't think that they care to much about the healthiness of the food.
I had gone into a McDonald's not to long ago, and someone asked me to buy them a hamburger. I said no (even though I could of,) but I now realize how wrong I was. I realize now what I must do, and that is if I have the money to buy someone a hamburger, I am not going to buy them a hamburger, but a Big Mac.
This has gotten me to think about a guy that I see in my neighborhood from time to time. He kind of looks like the character “Uncle Tom”. and I would guess that he is in his early 60s. When I first moved into the area, he would ask for a quarter. The first few times that he did it, I said no, but I watched him from time to time when I would be down where he hangs around, and I realized that he is a very nice guy who had come upon hard times and I can only pray that he comes into a much better one. From then on when he would ask it would really depend on if I had it or if I was in a rush, and even in a rush at times I would stop and give it to him. Other times he would ask, and I would be trying to get to the store, but on my way back I would pull out some change and give it to him even if he didn't ask.
One of the last times that I saw him, he was sitting in his usual spot, and I reached into my pocket and pulled out a dollar in change. As I walked closer to him, he asked for a quarter, and I put the money into his hand.. He hadn't looked at how much I had given him, but he said “Thank You”, which he usually does even if I give him only a time. The next day I was headed to the supermarket, and I hear someone yelling from across the street. I turn and looked, and it was him saying “Thank You” again with a big smile on his face. I haven't seen him since.
Now I could write about other homeless people that I know, and the good things that I have seen them do, but I want to ask for you to do something, that being to stop and give some of the homeless people something to eat, or even a coin from time to time. Imagine if you were in that position and it was you who needed help. Yeah some of them will use the money to buy drugs or alcohol, but I am sure that you see some of these people regularly who could use your help. I remember hearing actress Lorielle New mention giving I think an old blanket that she had to someone in her neighborhood. Who knows, her just doing that simple act may have kept that person from freezing to death that night.
I was talking with a friend yesterday and the election for Governor came up. One of the candidates as spend over $100 million to win the race, while the other may have spent $15 million. My friend said that she would be more likely to vote of her if she had taken some of that money and given it to schools or put it into other things. Just imagine the impact that could be had if she had take 1/3 of that money and invested it into scholarships for students who could only maintain a C average because of the circumstances that surrounded them? How many of them could of gotten a university degree and done stuff to help improve things in crime ridden areas? or found cures for illnesses? or even thought high enough of themselves to position themselves so that they aren't homeless and asking you for a quarter as you walk down the street?
Next time that you go to McDonald's and someone ask you to buy them a hamburger, if you have a dollar, buy them something off of the Dollar menu if you can, as it will make a difference.
Now the owner of the place had sent a note explaining why, and they had a very good reason. The more that I thought about it, the more that I want to applaud McDonald's for even making that offer in most of it's stores. Yeah I have been in some of the stores where there was homeless people, but I realized that with these menus they are able to get food into there bodies. Oh I am sure that some will say that it's not Healthy Food, but when I go into the Health Food Stores, the prices are so high that I am sure that many of the people who are living a homeless lifestyle can't afford the food that they these places sell. These people are Hungry, and I really don't think that they care to much about the healthiness of the food.
I had gone into a McDonald's not to long ago, and someone asked me to buy them a hamburger. I said no (even though I could of,) but I now realize how wrong I was. I realize now what I must do, and that is if I have the money to buy someone a hamburger, I am not going to buy them a hamburger, but a Big Mac.
This has gotten me to think about a guy that I see in my neighborhood from time to time. He kind of looks like the character “Uncle Tom”. and I would guess that he is in his early 60s. When I first moved into the area, he would ask for a quarter. The first few times that he did it, I said no, but I watched him from time to time when I would be down where he hangs around, and I realized that he is a very nice guy who had come upon hard times and I can only pray that he comes into a much better one. From then on when he would ask it would really depend on if I had it or if I was in a rush, and even in a rush at times I would stop and give it to him. Other times he would ask, and I would be trying to get to the store, but on my way back I would pull out some change and give it to him even if he didn't ask.
One of the last times that I saw him, he was sitting in his usual spot, and I reached into my pocket and pulled out a dollar in change. As I walked closer to him, he asked for a quarter, and I put the money into his hand.. He hadn't looked at how much I had given him, but he said “Thank You”, which he usually does even if I give him only a time. The next day I was headed to the supermarket, and I hear someone yelling from across the street. I turn and looked, and it was him saying “Thank You” again with a big smile on his face. I haven't seen him since.
Now I could write about other homeless people that I know, and the good things that I have seen them do, but I want to ask for you to do something, that being to stop and give some of the homeless people something to eat, or even a coin from time to time. Imagine if you were in that position and it was you who needed help. Yeah some of them will use the money to buy drugs or alcohol, but I am sure that you see some of these people regularly who could use your help. I remember hearing actress Lorielle New mention giving I think an old blanket that she had to someone in her neighborhood. Who knows, her just doing that simple act may have kept that person from freezing to death that night.
I was talking with a friend yesterday and the election for Governor came up. One of the candidates as spend over $100 million to win the race, while the other may have spent $15 million. My friend said that she would be more likely to vote of her if she had taken some of that money and given it to schools or put it into other things. Just imagine the impact that could be had if she had take 1/3 of that money and invested it into scholarships for students who could only maintain a C average because of the circumstances that surrounded them? How many of them could of gotten a university degree and done stuff to help improve things in crime ridden areas? or found cures for illnesses? or even thought high enough of themselves to position themselves so that they aren't homeless and asking you for a quarter as you walk down the street?
Next time that you go to McDonald's and someone ask you to buy them a hamburger, if you have a dollar, buy them something off of the Dollar menu if you can, as it will make a difference.
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