Today was blessed with such a rich experience I really cannot find the words to describe it. This morning when I woke up I prayed and invited God to be a part of my day and I asked Him to please just bless me with guidance and put me where I needed to be, to deliver me into the hands of the homeless with His sweet loving spirit present so I would feel protected and as I went about my day I knew I couldn't just show up empty handed so I cooked a huge pot of Goulash and buttered two loaves of french bread and warmed it in the oven and off I went without a soul knowing where I was going. I didn't know where I was going. I went to the usual homeless hangout at a park across town and it didn't feel right so I let God have the wheel and before long I was parked in front of the city library. I sat in my car for a minute and then I gathered my offerings and approached a man who was eyeing my food. I asked him if he was hungry and he said, "Yes, ma'am" and from that moment on I was in the presence of the most gracious appreciation I have ever known...His name was Donald and he had only one arm and asked me to help him open his bottled water...we conversed and I told him I was surprised there weren't more people out that I could share my food with and that's when he pointed to a little park adjacent to the library and told me they were all over there...so over there I went. There were about fifteen homeless people gathered in their little cliques. I introduced myself and went around shaking all of their hands asking them if they were hungry. There were a few gentlemen passed out on the grass so I didn't get to officially meet them until some time later. I served them and had originally intended to eat my dinner with them, but when I saw there might not be enough food I decided to wait...after all I've had a meal today. I wish I could remember all their names....There was Tami, Robert, Amanda, Lori, Jim, Earl, Rita....and now the mind is whirling...but all their faces are etched into my heart. I heard countless stories...each one precious and I was amazed at how they look out for each other. I heard stories about how they were treated by the police and public in general, about where they sleep, about their families, their travels....they couldn't share enough and the blessings were just pouring down as they continued telling me their stories and concerns. Earl is from Tennessee just trying to get back home, Tami wanted to save her food for her husband (he was one of the gentlemen passed out), she told me he had pneumonia but couldn't get his prescriptions filled...Lori french braided Tami's hair and I commented that I thought it was beautiful so she offered to french braid my hair and of course I accepted...we didn't have a hair elastic so she put her Nascar cloth bracelet in my hair to keep it tight....it turned out perfect. They had many questions for me as well and were very surprised I wasn't there through a church but on my own free will...none of them asked me for money, but they did give me some pointers if I ever needed a good spot to get some. If I would have had money with me I would have given it all to them.....gladly. As it began to get dark I thought I should get on home as they all needed to scatter about to find their individual safe nests for the night. They surrounded me, thanked me, some hugged me, but all of them made me feel comfortable even the guys that finally "woke up" from their naps. I'm leaving out so many details and stories that could be shared here but I think this post is quite lengthy and so they might have to spill out on another day...but just know that we have an amazing God and He has favored the poor with His grace...I can't wait to get back and feel it again. Set your inhibitions aside and trust that we are meant to love one another...and oh, how eyes sparkle when we do!
Sometimes listening for God is really hard...there is so much uncertainty...and then we wait for a voice that might be a little louder or a sign that flashes to get our attention. Words like HOPE and GRACE pour down all around and we step over them...but always with the best intentions. Sometimes it's someone's smile or a door being held open that can change our mood and so we pay it forward by letting someone have our parking space or letting someone go in front of us in the grocery store line. It doesn't really take much effort to be kind...so I am wondering what does effort look like...the real thing...that which surpasses a smile or friendly gesture? And what exactly are the implications? Am I giving pieces of myself away when I take a little time to listen to others....or reach out? God has been speaking to my heart for days now and I'm certain at sometime I've prayed for these very moments...where all I had to do was turn my ear to heaven and open my eyes on earth to see where I am being called....at first it was subtle, through friends, through unexpected phone calls, through late night conversations with radical thinkers and yes, even through some of your blogs...and now I have reached a point where it isn't enough simply to acknowledge my thoughts...I am being nudged into action and so that is why I have decided to spend time with some homeless folks tomorrow...if they will have me...if they will tolerate my ignorance and accept what little I have to offer. Am I afraid? Yes, but only because it is outside of my comfort zone...but so is speaking in front of large groups of people and I have survived that in the past. I'm just in desperate need to witness what HOPE looks like and I really want to feel God's GRACE...I hope they won't mind sharing a little of it with me...
I wish for your Easter day to be filled with the observance of little fingers clutching the colorful delights that are found in Easter baskets everywhere...I hope you take the time to nibble the ears off a chocolate Easter bunny yourself, remembering a time when the sheer sight of one made you feel special. I so love this time of year even though my own children have outgrown many of the little events that transpire from the imaginations of zealous parenting trying to make memories for their children. There still exists a "magic" that sings out from beneath all the new blossoms and chorus of fresh leaves. I love the excitement of children looking for Easter eggs in their freshly pressed Sunday attire and the innocence in their faces as they try to wrap their minds around the correlation between jelly beans and Jesus Christ. I love that they can walk away with often a better understanding than most adults...that it's all about LOVE. 
