First off... Tom. Before Christmas I was driving back from Canton on 64, going the speed limit of course, 50mph. I happened to glance at the the
Valero station and see an past-middle-aged man sitting on the ground. Why he caught my eye at the time, I wasn't sure. A week later, on the way to Canton, I saw him again, this time he had a bicycle. A couple days later on the way in from Christmas celebration with my family, he was sitting in a fold-up chair. He had caught my eye (definitely not in the attractive sense... he's very rough looking from afar) and never left my thoughts since the first time. As the nights got cold, I worried about him. Not even knowing his name yet.
I decided I needed to do something. God had put him in my life for a reason. I did not want to blow this off. I couldn't. It's not like I passed a bum and then quickly decided to move on... he was continually put in my path... how many times was I supposed to ignore him? I made some soup and bought peanut butter and bread, packed it up in a bag, adding a knife, spoon, napkin, and candy-cane shaped container of M&Ms.
In between all of this and my regular daily life, I prayed. Not with my hands folded every time or with my eyes closed. But just in my head and heart. I do this all the time actually, and no one even knows I'm doing it, except God of course. I asked God why this random homeless person kept occupying my thoughts. What am I supposed to do? What does he need? I didn't get much of an answer. Because I didn't get a booming voice with a significant idea, I figured everyone needed food... and probably someone to talk to.
When I got there it was awkward at first. I walked up and said something like, "I've seen you sitting here for a while... what's the deal? I brought you some soup. I just made it." He thanked me with a nod, and realizing that I wasn't just going to drop it off and speed out of there, he started talking. We didn't talk that long, maybe 10 minutes. He told me he was a painter and had done a job for some family, but they skipped town and didn't pay him. His car had broke down a while back. He had been getting rides from his family, but now he didn't have a way to get around, a place to stay, or a job. He said that lots of people had stopped and given him things, like food, clothes, a sleeping bag... but that no one had given him what he really needed... a job. I told him I'd put the word out. I put up a facebook post, mentioned it to some church friends, and told everyone at work.
I didn't make a big deal out of it. I didn't and still don't know how, part of the reason I'm writing this blog. I looked on craigslist and other Tyler jobs sites for paint jobs and found nothing. Truth be told, I already know most people are not hiring because I've kept an eye out for a new job myself the past couple months. The only thing I found was a flyer in my apartment's laundry room for some service positions. I also called the Salvation Army to see what the deal is there. "We have rules," is what the lady told me after she explained that people could come live and work there. She said most people do not want to live by there unspecified-to-me rules.
I took that information to Tom this morning. On the way I picked up a cup of coffee and two breakfast sandwiches from Burger King so I wasn't showing up completely empty handed which is what it felt like anyway. I gave him the info about the washing machine company which he recognized and said he already tried. They won't hire him because he hasn't worked for one company for over a year, to which I replied, "I've only worked at one job that long... and I've had quite a few jobs..." I also offered to take him to the Salvation Army and reminded him it was about to get very cold out at night, and they might have better shelter than the bush he sleeps under. He said he'd been there, and that it is like a jail. They make you work there, there's still not any jobs, and make you come up with $60 a week to stay. To that I said, "Well, then what are we supposed to do with you?" He said he would survive. He has done it before.
After talking about other stuff like where all he has lived, the jobs he's done, a mention of a second wife cheating with his best friend, our conversation lasted at least an hour. I still intend on keeping my eye out for him and checking in with a hot cup of coffee in a few days. But whether or not I do any good for him beyond that I don't know. What I do know is there is a serious need for more open re-entry programs for people like Tom who need something with less strings attached.
What I also know is God is out there in the hearts of all kinds of people. Jesus provides symbol of hope, of something better. Tom knows there will be something that will come along. He said so. He said that the Lord has provided him with things through the years, and that He will continue to do so. If a homeless and jobless person can have hope and faith... A person without a church, without a Bible, can know God, through His Mere Presence.. how Awesome is that? God is everywhere. He sees everything. What do you see when you look around?
