Last week, I had the opportunity to spend five days in Savannah. Mr. L was in a conference, so I spent the better part of every day just roaming, reading historical markers, and taking pictures.
Snapping pictures of the iconic fountain in Forsythe Park, a gentleman shouted to me asking if I wanted him to take a picture of me in front of the fountain. I am not proud that my first thought was that I did not because I wasn't sure that I wanted to hand my camera over to him. I hate that I allow the darkness of this world make me suspicious of people I don't know. I also don't much like having my picture made, so there was that.
I did walk over to him, however, to thank him for the offer. He asked if I wanted a poem he wrote. I said I would love one, but I didn't have any money on me to pay for it. He said that was okay, he was happy to share the poem. He asked why everyone thinks everything is about money. I replied that I figured he needed to eat and that cost money. He said that was true, but he had had a cup of coffee that morning and he would get a check for $900 from his social security next week, so he was doing just fine.
He said he was a homeless veteran. I shook his hand and thanked him for his service. He then began to share his beautiful thoughts about how we are all family. He said we all belong to the family of God and we just need to look after each other. I told him I agreed with him, kicking myself for not having cash on me to share with him, but I was not going to insult him again by mentioning money. I told him a favorite quote of mine, "only look in your neighbor's yard to be sure he has enough." He really liked that and said he would remember it.
He handed me the copy of his poem, written on tattered paper, in a mainly illegible hand. He had drawn hearts, emphasized by a yellow highlighter. Toward the bottom is a cross with a sun, I think. I asked him his name. He said he was Earl Barnes. I shook his hand again and told him how nice it was to meet him.
I walked away, reading his poem. There were only parts of it that I could decipher..."Aunt Mary's Table of love," "children return from school," "Joining God's Family, we serve all." As I walked away, it dawned on me that I had actually stuck some money in my phone case. I hurried back, finding Earl's coat had been left on a bench and he and a friend walking away. I shouted to him, asking if that was his coat. He said, "Lawd, that's the third time this week I've left my coat behind; I've got so much in my hands." I handed him a little money, told him to buy himself some lunch if he wanted to use it for that. He danced a little jig and asked, "can I hug you," to which I replied, "I'd be honored to get a hug from you, Earl."
In our conversation, I learned that Earl and I are the same age. I pondered how much easier my life has been than his, but how much more appreciative Earl is for the blessings God has rained on him. There are so many people in so many places from whom I need to learn.
"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2
Certainly, Earl was not entertaining an angel, but I must wonder, was I?
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