A Letter from Grace

He stands at the corner of a side street near I-10 and the Heights exit in Houston most weekdays adorned with his cardboard sign which reads “Vietnam Vet” along with several medals hung from his neck from days gone by.  Beside him sits a rolled up blanket and a backpack.  Even on the cloudiest of days he wears dark sunglasses.  I often wonder if it is for the sake of convenience so as to avoid eye contact as he holds out his cup to receive a donation or if it is to cover the results of an eye injury.  Either way, it reminds me of the old adage, “the eyes are the windows to the soul” and the dark sunglasses make it very difficult to see to the windows which reveal his soul. 

It has been three years since I slowly approached the corner and rolled down my window to hand him a sealed envelope.  The contents of which included a personal letter and some money for bus fare.   I had just read the book Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall.  I learned from Ron’s experience with a homeless man named Denver that homeless people don’t need money, they need friends. 

The letter was heartfelt and I explained that while I wasn’t sure what circumstances in life led him to be homeless and to be on this particular corner every morning, there is a God who loves him and that I hoped he would use the money in the envelope as a way to get to the local mission, Star of Hope, as a new start.  I knew he needed a friend, but to protect my safety, I signed the letter “Love, Grace” a pen name, which was my grandmother’s name. 

The next day and days following as I approached the corner, I hoped he would not be there.  I hoped he had made it to the mission.  To my disappointment, he was still there then and he is still there today – with his sign, medals, blanket, backpack, cup, and dark sunglasses. 

On this Thanksgiving Day, I count my blessings. Abundant blessings. And as I do, I am most thankful for a God who loves me AND who loves the homeless man on the corner at the Heights exit off I-10 in Houston, Texas.  He is a God of hope.  And He provides hope and a promise for those who believe in Him of an eternal life far better than any hunger, eye problem (whatever it may be), homelessness, and suffering endured here on earth.   

Give me courage and bravery, Lord, to share more of YOU with those who need HOPE for today and for tomorrow.  

 

 

The corner.  This picture was taken two days before Thanksgiving.  It was raining and 39 degrees.  He wasn't there -- and for that I am thankful.