Since I started this blog several months ago, I get an opportunity to read other weblogs. For example, I like perusing the www.waiterrant.net site. He originally started the weblog on blogger.com, but he now has moved his site. This blogger works as a waiter in a swanky restaurant in the New York area. He is a consistently good writer. He is well known in the blogosphere, and he records his various work experiences. His stories range from the very poignant and the very ridiculous to the very absurd.
This past week I got an opportunity to catch up on his latest postings. I was very touched about his entry on another blogger "The Homeless Guy". This guy lives in Nashville, TN. He was homeless more than a half dozen times during his lifetime. Fortunately, he currently has a place to live in a nice neighborhood. His experiences remind me that we should not take life's little blessings and benefits for granted. I recommend that you read his blog. We can definitely learn a lot from this guy. Also, he has more than one weblog. You may want to read about his opinions on Christmas.
The DC area has its share of the "true homeless". A lot of times, we mostly don't want to recognize them. We go about our day concerned with our own issues and delete them from our minds as we go to our offices, travel to lunch meetings, and return to our homes. Or, we fear them because they may have a mental illness or they don't bathe and smell funny. Unfortunately, sometimes that is true.
Fortunately, I got a chance to befriend a couple guys who live on the streets near my office building.
One guy, "Ray", was an elderly gentleman and a very friendly guy who would feed the local pigeons. In the morning, he had a friendly gesture for you when you approached him. A couple years ago, he suddenly died one night.
Office workers were surprised and the news spread in the local area. I did not know how many people actually knew him. A sales manager created a temporary memorial on the side street where he had feed his pigeons. She bought a card and got office workers to sign the card. She then posted the card on the building wall outside his usual 'hangout'. Also included were bread crumbs for his pigeons he cared so much about. I remembered that he would call them by individual names. Office workers even attended his funeral. When I sometimes think that humanity has lost its way, then something else wonderful happens.
Later, I found out that a number of people at work talked to him, offered him cigarettes, lunches, drinks, their time, whatever. Sometimes, I miss seeing the flock of pigeons picking at bread crumbs as I walk towards work. Yes, I even forgot how annoying they were when I was crossing the street.
I'm going to recommend to the church that we get connected to a ministry that works with the hungry and the homeless.
I know a few organizations that battle hunger, like SOME, Salvation Army, bread.org. If anyone knows any local (DC) organizations, charities, or ministries that work with the local homeless, feel free to drop me a line. Thanks for the help.
Today's verse: Psalm 107:2-7 (New Living Translation)
Tell others he has saved you from your enemies.
3For he has gathered the exiles from many lands,
from east and west, from north and south.
4Some wandered in the desert,
lost and homeless.
5Hungry and thirsty,
they nearly died.
6"LORD, help!" they cried in their trouble,
and he rescued them from their distress.
7He led them straight to safety,
to a city where they could live.
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