My last meanderings was about a man named William Vincent David Montada that we helped to get to Philadelphia with a bus ticket.

Though you may not believe it of me, I am NOT a "bleeding heart liberal" who offers up any and everything to any and everyone. In actuality, my working and my living have made me a realist who can "drive a hard bargain". I try to discern if, indeed, whatever I offer up to someone is 'lifting' them.  If not, I offer only a smile, an ear, a hug, a prayer.

So it was interesting to me that, as I left the station, I gave Vincent $5 and a slip of paper with my first name and my phone number;  something compelled me.

Hmmm...

I have received 3 calls since then from 3 different social workers.

The one in Philadelphia said he could not find his friend even though she helped him.  Could I verify his story?

The one in New Jersey was from the hospital wondering if I knew he had not found his friend and had been sent to a shelter and now was being checked at the hospital.  Could I verify his story?

The one today also in New Jersey (at the shelter where he went from the hospital ) wondered if I knew him and could be a resource in any way now that Christmas was drawing nigh.  Could I verify his story?

I told them all that I had spent one hour with him and I believed he was not malicious but misguided and he needed to, at least, get back to Florida where, even if at risk, he was warmer.

They all agreed.

So, this last social worker said that with this verification,  he believed that he could get him back to Florida.

I thanked him and asked him to tell Vincent that I was sorry for his trouble. I said to tell him I thought he needed to stop hopping shelters who were calling me to verify his story and get back to Florida and then back to Honduras where he might be safer (and certainly would be warmer).  I then asked the social worker to say to him what I said when I left him at the bus station.

"Dios Bendiga."

"God Bless."

I hung up and felt conflicted.

I genuinely CARE about Vincent.

I sincerely meant those words but I know these calls are telling.

I have NO idea if this man is simply the lonely soul I sense or if he is intentionally using folks' 'gifting' and I am one of them.

Certainly,  it would not be the first time in my professional...or personal...life, someone has 'used' my gifts in ways other than I hoped.

Indeed, if I only gifted when I was certain those gifts would be used EXACTLY as I intended, I would never give again.

But, that's not the point is it?

The point is in the GIVING.

Especially at Christmas.

If God had waited until certain we would use the gift of LOVE exactly as intended, there might not even be a Babe to celebrate.

But, the point was in the GIVING.

Sometimes that's a miss.

Sometimes that's a hit.

Given the extent of God's 'gamble', it seems petty of me to ponder it too much.

So, I am trying to rest in that tonight.

Makes me wonder if God EVER rests.

Makes me want to DO better with that LOVE that is God's gift of Christmas.

Makes me want to discern how to best use it as God might have intended.

So, I open my mind and heart to Guidance as I say:

"Gracias, Dios."

"Thank you, God."

"Dios Bendiga, Vincent."

"God bless."