Monday, April 26, 2010

Love God And Love Your Neighbor

I went to the Mission de nombre de Dios here in Saint Augustine, Florida to sit on my favorite stone bench by the rustic altar. I was all alone. And I walked up to cross of Jesus where he is there displayed with all the nails in him. I touched his feet and I said, "Thank you dear Lord for dying on the cross for me and my sins, for which they are many." I looked out on the bay. And I began my reading in the book of Mark. Jesus was explaining to the disciples why he often used parables. And why some are shown the things of God and others are not. And I saw a fin appear from a large sea creature in the bay, it was that of a porpoise. And he swam in like circles for about five minutes then he was on his way back to the ocean. And then I looked up to an eagle sitting on the Great Cross. And I thought to myself, for those who do not believe, there is more evidence of a holy God than there is not. If one needs proof, just look around. God created it all. Believe on him, won't you? Then, I went downtown to the Post Office to check my mail. And a United States veteran was standing on the corner of Martin Luther King Blvd/King St, along with a woman aged from the sun, who was sitting. He told me that they are both homeless because of "bad divorces." Then, he asked me, "Do you know anyone who has a job?" (This should dispel any notion that all homeless people do not wish to work and are lazy). I told him about a website where he could search. He was most thankful. And then I went to my car and got something out of my styrofoam cooler for him and the lady to eat. And then I told him a Bible story, about how Jesus had no place to lay his head. And I do hope that I helped lift his spirit. And we said our, "God Bless You's" and I felt good in my heart. What have you done for Jesus today? Help someone won't you?

Thursday, February 4, 2010

The prayer of a homeless man

I visit the United Methodist Church
the one on the corner where
the homeless panhandle
for their daily bread
I sit in the right front pew, alone
The minister asks us to stand
for a song of dedication
It is the final hymn
The organist positions her hands
on the keys, the music begins
and voices are raised to
“…Take my life and let it be…”
I lift up my voice in song
I am filled with the Spirit of God
A man not in church attire
runs down the isle to the altar
and drops violently to his knees to pray
He looks like he might be homeless
he has that look of desperation his face
The minister kneels down beside him
I struggle to sing the song
but I cannot even though I try
the tears flow down my cheeks
and inside I am broken for that man
And all the homeless people in the land
And I say, “dear Lord it shouldn’t be”
And then I hear the words,“consecrated to thee”
and I think if all my tears went up to the Lord as a prayer
then they were not in vain.

Friday, January 1, 2010

End Homelessness In America

What does homelessness feel like?

It feels like you have layed down on the railroad tracks to go to sleep and then a train comes and runs you over while you are sleeping.

Homeless in Winter

Now I lay me down to sleep
On this log in Bangor woods deep
The icy chill I feel in my bones
Is nothing compared to this feeling alone
I think of you in your warm bed
While I lay here feeling almost dead
Then I look up on the one bright star
and I remember my God is not very far
He who died taught us how to love one another
But I lay here with no help from you my brother
I wonder have you forgotten me?
*I wrote this poem after reading a news story of a homeless couple living in the woods of Bangor, Maine. I imagined what winter must feel like.