The Gift of a Chance Encounter
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"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." - Proverbs 19:17
The other night I was going for a drive and had peaceful Christmas music playing in my car. There’s something about Christmas music that makes me feel warm inside. The Christmas tunes had me thinking about past holidays and how cold the weather is, and how we take Christmas morning breakfast, presents from family members, and warm pajamas and socks for granted. We don’t even really think about those things, right? We just do them. It’s normal.
Well, for a lot of people, it isn’t normal. A lot of people have to sleep outside, and to stay warm, cover themselves with a cardboard box. They lean on their arms or a cement door for comfort to support their neck while they sleep. They ask passersby for change so that maybe they can afford a sandwich from McDonalds. This is what I’ve seen in my experience with homeless people. There was one particular experience earlier this year in 2017 that I want to share with you.
I was running into Target one night, in a hurry as usual. I had a late workout... had to get some essential groceries and get home to meal prep for the next day and shower etc. etc.
An older homeless man stood outside of Target with his cane, saw me running inside and quickly yelled, "ma'am can you please help a homeless man?" I said, "I'm sorry, I don't have cash!" And I continued to run inside.
Then the lightbulb went off. He might not need cash... he might need a meal. And I can buy that with a credit card. I walked back outside and said, "I don't have cash but can I buy you something to eat?" He lit up and said," they have those small hot personal pizzas. Can I have one?" I walked back inside to buy him one, and that counter for hot food was closed. I ran back outside and said, "I'm so sorry... the counter is closed. Is there anything else you want?" He asked if he could come inside and look. I said sure.
We walked to the fresh food section and he asked, "do they have sandwiches?" I said yes. He picked out turkey and havarti. I said "do you want 2?" He said okay. Then I said "let's get you a drink." He walked up and down the fridges until his eyes fixated on orange juice. I thought a gallon would last him a few days.
Instead of going to check him out separately and then continue my shopping after, I said, "want to walk with me while I get the rest of my stuff?" He said sure. He had a cane and a limp, but that didn't stop him.
My next stop was the cereal aisle. I needed some oatmeal. He was looking, looking, looking. I said, "see anything you like?" He said "I like cereal with milk, but I don't have a bowl to eat it out of." I said "no worries, they sell bowls here :)". He was in shock.
Frosted Flakes were his cereal of choice, with a half-gallon of 2% milk. I picked out a pretty bowl and a shiny silver spoon.
After grabbing a few more things for myself, we went to check out. He stood next to me... looking cold, unshaven, with a worn down jacket, a cane, and a backpack with one water bottle in it. Here I am in my Nike-everything gym clothes. The cashier looked confused... and gave me a "are you okay?" look. I smiled and said yes. She rang up his stuff first, not knowing it was for him. I handed him his bags and all the cashier said was "wow."
The man asked if I needed any help bringing my groceries to my car. I said no thank you. He looked at me straight in my eyes and said, "thank you so much. God bless you." It was the warmest, most sincere "thank you" I have ever received. I said, "God bless you too, and enjoy your cereal." With tears in his eyes, he smiled and said, "I will. It's been a long, long time."
Not once did I think, "is he trying to take advantage of me?" "Is he trying to scam me?" "Am I unsafe?" The thoughts that went through my head as we walked past the aisles of Target were...
Wait, when's the last time he changed his shirt? Does he need a new one? Clean socks? What about deodorant? A toothbrush? Dental floss? Lotion? Chapstick for the cold and dry nights?
I felt so overwhelmed, because he probably needed so much, and I gave him so little.
I don't make a lot of money, but let me tell you. I have a home and I pay rent on time. I have heat that I can turn on when I choose. I have a stocked fridge. I had more than him. And so I gave. And I am here asking for your help so that I can give more. Since my experience with this man named Haywood, I have been desperately trying to find the gift of a chance encounter again because of the warmth and joy I received from being able to help someone. If you cannot donate, please give the gift of a chance encounter whenever you can- not just this Holiday season. Walking the streets of a big city, at a stoplight on a corner of a street, running into Target in a rush. How many times have you encountered a homeless person and kept walking? How many times have you made silent judgments in your mind? Did you stop and think about the things we are taking for granted? Have you ever thought about asking them to join you on your grocery run?
This world needs more love, and I desperately am working to share it. Please help me this winter season to give the gift of more chance encounters. I am hoping to reach as many homeless and people in need as I can, and warm them with hugs, blankets, pillows, clothing, gloves, socks, boots, food, water, dog food for dogs who are homeless with their owners, books, hygiene products, you name it. I hope to document my encounters as much as possible with the consent of the people I meet. I plan to spend week nights and weekends during the next 2 months driving through different parts of Maryland, D.C. and northern Virginia. Anything you can offer will help!
Thank you for helping those who are in need of the things we don’t even have to think twice about. You are making a difference. Merry Christmas and God Bless You.
The other night I was going for a drive and had peaceful Christmas music playing in my car. There’s something about Christmas music that makes me feel warm inside. The Christmas tunes had me thinking about past holidays and how cold the weather is, and how we take Christmas morning breakfast, presents from family members, and warm pajamas and socks for granted. We don’t even really think about those things, right? We just do them. It’s normal.
Well, for a lot of people, it isn’t normal. A lot of people have to sleep outside, and to stay warm, cover themselves with a cardboard box. They lean on their arms or a cement door for comfort to support their neck while they sleep. They ask passersby for change so that maybe they can afford a sandwich from McDonalds. This is what I’ve seen in my experience with homeless people. There was one particular experience earlier this year in 2017 that I want to share with you.
I was running into Target one night, in a hurry as usual. I had a late workout... had to get some essential groceries and get home to meal prep for the next day and shower etc. etc.
An older homeless man stood outside of Target with his cane, saw me running inside and quickly yelled, "ma'am can you please help a homeless man?" I said, "I'm sorry, I don't have cash!" And I continued to run inside.
Then the lightbulb went off. He might not need cash... he might need a meal. And I can buy that with a credit card. I walked back outside and said, "I don't have cash but can I buy you something to eat?" He lit up and said," they have those small hot personal pizzas. Can I have one?" I walked back inside to buy him one, and that counter for hot food was closed. I ran back outside and said, "I'm so sorry... the counter is closed. Is there anything else you want?" He asked if he could come inside and look. I said sure.
We walked to the fresh food section and he asked, "do they have sandwiches?" I said yes. He picked out turkey and havarti. I said "do you want 2?" He said okay. Then I said "let's get you a drink." He walked up and down the fridges until his eyes fixated on orange juice. I thought a gallon would last him a few days.
Instead of going to check him out separately and then continue my shopping after, I said, "want to walk with me while I get the rest of my stuff?" He said sure. He had a cane and a limp, but that didn't stop him.
My next stop was the cereal aisle. I needed some oatmeal. He was looking, looking, looking. I said, "see anything you like?" He said "I like cereal with milk, but I don't have a bowl to eat it out of." I said "no worries, they sell bowls here :)". He was in shock.
Frosted Flakes were his cereal of choice, with a half-gallon of 2% milk. I picked out a pretty bowl and a shiny silver spoon.
After grabbing a few more things for myself, we went to check out. He stood next to me... looking cold, unshaven, with a worn down jacket, a cane, and a backpack with one water bottle in it. Here I am in my Nike-everything gym clothes. The cashier looked confused... and gave me a "are you okay?" look. I smiled and said yes. She rang up his stuff first, not knowing it was for him. I handed him his bags and all the cashier said was "wow."
The man asked if I needed any help bringing my groceries to my car. I said no thank you. He looked at me straight in my eyes and said, "thank you so much. God bless you." It was the warmest, most sincere "thank you" I have ever received. I said, "God bless you too, and enjoy your cereal." With tears in his eyes, he smiled and said, "I will. It's been a long, long time."
Not once did I think, "is he trying to take advantage of me?" "Is he trying to scam me?" "Am I unsafe?" The thoughts that went through my head as we walked past the aisles of Target were...
Wait, when's the last time he changed his shirt? Does he need a new one? Clean socks? What about deodorant? A toothbrush? Dental floss? Lotion? Chapstick for the cold and dry nights?
I felt so overwhelmed, because he probably needed so much, and I gave him so little.
I don't make a lot of money, but let me tell you. I have a home and I pay rent on time. I have heat that I can turn on when I choose. I have a stocked fridge. I had more than him. And so I gave. And I am here asking for your help so that I can give more. Since my experience with this man named Haywood, I have been desperately trying to find the gift of a chance encounter again because of the warmth and joy I received from being able to help someone. If you cannot donate, please give the gift of a chance encounter whenever you can- not just this Holiday season. Walking the streets of a big city, at a stoplight on a corner of a street, running into Target in a rush. How many times have you encountered a homeless person and kept walking? How many times have you made silent judgments in your mind? Did you stop and think about the things we are taking for granted? Have you ever thought about asking them to join you on your grocery run?
This world needs more love, and I desperately am working to share it. Please help me this winter season to give the gift of more chance encounters. I am hoping to reach as many homeless and people in need as I can, and warm them with hugs, blankets, pillows, clothing, gloves, socks, boots, food, water, dog food for dogs who are homeless with their owners, books, hygiene products, you name it. I hope to document my encounters as much as possible with the consent of the people I meet. I plan to spend week nights and weekends during the next 2 months driving through different parts of Maryland, D.C. and northern Virginia. Anything you can offer will help!
Thank you for helping those who are in need of the things we don’t even have to think twice about. You are making a difference. Merry Christmas and God Bless You.
Organizer
Aubrey Hunt
Organizer
Beltsville, MD
