Encouragement

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My friend always says that angels are among us. Sometimes they come in the least likely forms. I’ve often wondered if some of the homeless bums that panhandle throughout Albuquerque aren’t really bums at all, but some of those angels. Perhaps one of them is God himself.
I first saw him last January on the I-25 ramp at Montgomery panhandling. An elderly black gentleman dressed in a stocking cap and a dirty parka with the hood up. He stood at the curb with a sign that read "We all need a little help from time to time". He gave a big toothless grin as I pulled up to the light. I nodded and then fiddled with my radio. Turned it up a little and wondered how I could listen to Christian radio and ignore someone in need right there at my truck door.
It's always a little embarrassing to come across the panhandlers. And they're all over Albuquerque. I always want to help but seldom do. Not really sure if they truly need the help or are just feeding a crack or booze habit. If I give them a buck or two will they use it to get a something decent to eat? Or will they go get high? Besides, I wasn't really in a position to help.
This past winter I was counting my blessings that I wasn't in the same boat as that gentleman. I was out of work for a long time and fearing that I could easily end up on the streets myself. I was working in delivery job to make ends meet, but only making $5 an hour after overhead. And with a vindictive ex-wife who wanted to sue me for being in arrears in child support and credit card maintenance. I was beginning to feel in solidarity with the people of the streets knowing full well I was getting closer to being there myself.
The second time I saw him it was after taking my son to Blockbuster at San Mateo and Montgomery. It was after dark and getting near 20 degrees. As we came out of the store he was waiting there. "Got any spare change? " he asked, and I said "sorry," and instinctively put my hand on my son's shoulder and guided him to the car. But I was embarrassed that I said “no” so quick and even more that I got so protective of my son. Besides that, he probably watched me through the window put change into my pocket after getting a mindless video game. I got my son into the car and then I turned back to give the panhandler some money. But he had already disappeared into the night.
I got into my car and wondered how odd it was that I had crossed paths with the same bum within just a couple days. And it struck me as how that guy still had that great big smile despite the cold and hour of night and without having any place to go. I began to recall a country song, "What if Jesus comes back like that?" I prayed that I’d get another chance to help and wondered if I'd see that guy again.
I did.
Just a couple days later I was finishing up my route at the Walgreens store at Wyoming and Montgomery. I had a short day because I had to go to the office and get officially terminated by my company. Finally pink slipped. Oh well. I can draw unemployment now and not do the delivery thing anymore, I thought.
He was just outside the door. I thought how uncanny it was to keep running into this guy. He’s everywhere! I pulled the change out of my pocket before he could say anything and after sorting a couple keys and a couple Peter Piper Pizza tokens, I gave him around $1.50.
"Bless you!" he grinned. "No," I said. "Bless you," and I patted him on the shoulder. "Take care of yourself, Buddy."
I walked to my car and thought about what he said. Bless you. Me? I was about to lose my job and had no idea what the future held for me.
But that afternoon I was in the office manager's office and as she was politely telling me how they hoped to have me back in the spring, one of the engineers stepped in and asked me where I was working these days. Some kind of joke? No, he said the water group needed me for the a waste water treatment project this Spring.
Wow.
And even though its been a long wait for that project to start, I've been at peace knowing that there is a project waiting for me. And its given me an opportunity to grow in God's Word and work on my writing. I guess my friend is right. Angels are everywhere. And they come in the most unlikely forms.
Somewhere that guy is still panhandling, offering his blessings to others. I hope people listen and don't wait three times to finally accept them.

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