Just no way for my mind not to meander when I see that.
Or when I see lots of things there.
Today,well, I just don't know how NOT to share my meanderings.
While working down there this morning, two of the staff came to us and asked if we would give Anthony a ride to his group home. He had wandered away a few days ago and had been living on the street. He was clearly challenged so it felt like a bus wouldn't even work for him.
We said that we could take Anthony home so we did.
I wanted to take his picture but it felt intrusive so I didn't; this one is close with the clothes and bag....he stood a little straighter and a walking stick might have served him well.
Anyway, off we went in my little car. Did you know there is a 'homeless' smell? Anthony will linger in my little car well after he is gone.
But this blog is about way more than how he looked or smelled; this is about how he lingers in my mind and heart.
What lingers is the fact that there is a human being (one of many) who is on this earth with no one
seemingly acknowledging his very existence.
So, I need to do that.
Anthony was 62 years old and lived all his years in Detroit. He was concerned that we were going to take him out of Detroit and he didn't want to leave his home town. He told us about how he worked at churches when he was young.
Then he asked for hot meat. I reminded him that he had just had lunch and he still had 2 extra sandwiches with him that he could warm in the microwave. That reminded him of the time he forgot something was in the microwave and it exploded. He laughed at that memory.
Then he asked for hot meat. He said it was hard on the street. Cold and wet. And dangerous. He had been kicked in the head and in the stomach while sleeping. He didn't like it so he found his one friend but he was doing crack and crack can kill you so he left that place.
Then he asked for hot meat. He said he had talked to God while on the street and that is why he was still alive. He told us how he felt a tap on the shoulder and thought it was someone who was going to hurt him but when he turned around no one was there. He KNOWS it was God. He asked God to keep him safe and God did and that was a blessing.
Then he asked for hot meat. And we said he had the sandwiches and he said he needed to stop asking that same question and began to cry.
We told him it was alright that he asked and we told him we were glad that God had kept him safe and that we hoped he found comfort in knowing God was with him, tapping him on the shoulder.
Then we got to this icky house in one of Detroit's ickiest areas and we took him and his dirty, torn plastic grocery bag full of his possessions and walked him to the door.
He thanked us and said we were a blessing.
We were not a blessing. We just acknowledged him for 30 minutes. Big whoop.
Once again, I do not have the answers nor am I asking for any.
I am guessing Anthony will wander again and ask again for hot meat. He will probably get kicked again and pray again and he will continue to smell homeless.
BUT, he is one of God's children and he deserves to be named by someone. So, I am naming him here.I just want you to know that Anthony is on this planet with us. He loves his town of Detroit, he wishes for more hot meat and he finds comfort in the "tap" of God.
His name is ANTHONY.
ps
Feel free to 'share' this blog if you want others to know about him, too.
PPSS
One week later and he is back at NOAH. We talked about him finding a place.
He asked me to buy him a chicken sandwich.
I asked him if I could take his picture,
He took off his hat and posed.
He asked me to buy him a chicken sandwich.
I asked him if I could take his picture,
He took off his hat and posed.
Yep, he is definitely here.
Take a moment and
hold him gently
in your mind...and heart.
Take a moment and
hold him gently
in your mind...and heart.
Please.
His name is ANTHONY.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
Isaiah 43:1
His name is ANTHONY.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
Isaiah 43:1
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