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Meet This Homeless Veteran

January 4, 2013

I’ve crossed paths with this man more than once. This man who labels himself HOMELESS VETERAN on cardboard. On a street corner. In wealthy suburbs.

I saw him 10 minutes south at the top of an exit last spring and summer. Week after week, he’d be at the same spot. I saw him in passing from one therapy visit to the next, always running short on time. Only once did I have something to give him. I found it curious that he always stood at the same place, and I always saw him at the same time. Every week.

Months passed without seeing this gentleman, but just three weeks ago I saw him north 10 minutes at the top of another exit.

Gathered around the table, I talked about this man. How curious it is that I continue to see him, how long it has been.

Last week I found him again in this northern suburb, now in the heart of the city just two blocks from a mom with a fur coat and daughter with a fur vest crossing the street into a mall. My car approached him at a corner. This time I had something. Gave him a bottle of water and a bag of Doritos out the window. They were the only tangible things I had to give.

Thought a bit.

Drove around, watched him at the stoplight.

Headed for Arby’s to buy a sandwich, then realized I might be able to provide something more lasting than Arby’s for this man that has been on the streets, HOMELESS VETERAN sign in hand for months.

Scratched down the name of my church, names of the pastors, the street name, service times. All praying he might discover something greater, some help, some hope.

In a matter of seconds as I passed in my car, I handed him this scratched on piece of paper, he looked down and seemed to read each word as important. I uttered “I have seen you many times,” asked if he would like prayer from my blog readers, if I could take his picture.

“YES,” he said.

Join me? Take an opportunity to pray for a man in need? A veteran in need? And pray that next time I respond the way God would have me?

I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Psalm 140:12

Amy

This post was written as part of the Five Minute Friday link up. I spend the last hour of Thursday chatting with a group of authentic and inspiring Five Minute Friday bloggers on Twitter (#FiveMinuteFriday #fmfparty). One minute past midnight EST Friday, Lisa-Jo Baker gives us a single word prompt and we all write a blog post centered around that word. We write for five minutes, and five minutes only. In the words of Lisa, this is “unscripted. unedited. real.” You meet me at this moment in time…my thoughts and opinions, my joys and sorrows, my dilemmas and dreams. And I receive one of the greatest gifts ever…a regular outlet for processing and expressing my thoughts without constantly editing myself. This is my life, my perspective, unfiltered.

The word of the week is OPPORTUNITY. 

The Gift of Moments in the New Year

January 1, 2013

It’s been one week since Christmas and it’s still New Year’s Day. In my longing, constant working for this unattainable earthly perfection, it’s easy to find imperfection even in Christmas things and New Year things. Yes, joy is easily stolen by things. But take heart, joy remains. For moments cannot be stolen. Moments of joy, moments of peace, moments of love, moments of grace. Moments that matter.

This remote control car. He loved it. It was a favorite on Christmas Day. Before we left, I put it in the box and taped it up all safe so no harm would come between there and home. But somewhere along the way, my husband thought the same and took the antennae off the remote for safe keeping. It got misplaced between there and here, and now just a week old, the car won’t work well at all unless we can find this teeny tiny antennae. Nowhere to be found. Not in boxes, not in bags, not on the floor. The missing antennae momentarily stole my joy. I nagged, irritated with my husband for taking the antennae off, mistakenly thinking he was directly responsible for losing it. “That was his favorite! What a waste! I hate when stuff like this happens!” I exclaimed.

It’s just a little remote control car, I tell myself. It’ll show up. If not, I can call and see if they have replacement parts.

And this Mickey Mouse ornament. Little Mickey’s body broke right off his foot when I picked it up to put it back in the box this morning. It crumbled in my hands. There was no stopping it. Box read $19.95. This magical ornament played music, had lights. Now worth nothing. Gluing that big body on a tiny foot would prove pointless and fall right over. Only worthy of throwing straight in the garbage.

It’s just an ornament, I tell myself. Stop thinking about it and just throw it away. By next year, you’ll forget you even had it.

And the Meier’s sparkling apple juice? We let our 10-year-old plan New Year’s Eve. This was the special drink he had chosen for us, and we forgot only to find it in the back of the fridge this morning. Idealistic thoughts run through my mind….we could have, should have cheered in the new year with that sparkling juice, memories were for the making.

It’s just juice, I tell myself. Clearly, we didn’t even miss it. We’ll drink it another time and it’ll be just as fun.

He got the tank for Christmas, and the fish just moved into their new home yesterday. This morning, already one missing. They found it dead by the filter. Daddy got it out. Little yellow fish, dead in a sandwich bag for one final viewing. Didn’t even last one day, I don’t even want to look at that dead fish, this is daddy’s job!

It’s just a fish, I tell myself. That’s the way it goes. He’ll learn about life and death, and then he’ll get a new fish.

All this in just an hour or two.

The gifts, the decorations, the food and drink, the whole array of activities we use to entertain at Christmas, to ring in the New Year sometimes block, even mask the real joy we seek. These things can steal our joy with their promises of a better life, a more fulfilling life. But things don’t bring joy. They may bring temporary joy, but not lasting joy.

It is moments spent with those around us that matter most, that bring real, long-lasting joy.

All those frustrations with things can be reframed as moments to be treasured with people…

Watching our son play with that remote control car, cousin chasing and laughing behind him in the kitchen.

Little ones waiting in anticipation to see what that ornament would do, a button pushed, Mickey sang and they smiled, memories flooded in of our Disney vacation together.

Our son poured over his choices on the top shelf. Which sparkling juice to choose? Apple or pear, cranberry or raspberry? He chose apple, and mama liked the way he so thoughtfully made that decision.

That same son, the way he peered into his tank and didn’t think twice about that dead fish. It was only mama who was grossed out, who cared it died, who was anxious it might happen again, but so glad he could move beyond.

And today, joy was found in our little baby. A snotty, crusted nosed baby with a little food dried on top for color.

Yes, my husband and I delighted as our baby toddled around. Sister and brother put her hat on inside, and neither of us were in a hurry to take it off.

She toddled around the corner right over to her favorite place…the spice rack. Salt and ginger, black pepper. She examined, she shook, she dropped all over the floor.

And there was joy. Joy in that moment.

Yes, the joy of Christmas, the hope and promise of a new year can be stolen right out of our hands if we get stuck worrying about getting and keeping things perfect. Doing everything perfectly.

Yes, the joy, the hope, the promises of things better lie in moments. Moments noticed. Moments delighted in. Moments cherished.

This year, join me as I strive to simplify and focus on moments that matter. Moments with ones loved, ones dear, ones completely unknown but just as dear.

For I still need to learn it is NOT about keeping things just so, not about doing “it” right, not about getting “it” all perfect.

This year, I step into the freedom of grace. The joy of moments with others. Never predictable, very rarely perfect, but always beautiful.

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4

Amy

  1. Carol Femling says:
    January 3, 2013 at 4:53 pm

    I know where you got your perfectionism, from mom and dad. We’re sorry! I’m glad that you’re trying to overcome some of that trait you inherited. It will be for the better, believe me! Thanks for a wonderful Christmas! We LOVED being with all of you! Love you! Mom 🙂

    Reply
  2. Tom Baunsgard says:
    January 2, 2013 at 5:33 am

    Ah, the world is full of small and large disappointing events. Enjoying the precious moments is wonderful. Enjoy them all that you can. As they say in New Orleans “Laissez les bon temps rouller” Let the good times roll!

    Reply

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