The first time we saw this man, short and stocky, he was reduced to tears at the fact we were there, and had food, etc. to give. He stood in front of me, with his hands on my shoulders, tearing streaming down his face, making fierce eye contact, saying over and over “Someone DOES care, someone DOES care!”.
I softly replied, “Yes, we do care.”
He leaned towards me for a gentle hug, murmuring “Thank you Lord, you sent someone who does care”, while the tears flooded his face and chest. He trembled and softly whimpered like a scared child. I hugged him or let him hug me, not sure which, and patted his back until his sobs subsided. Then I stepped back and looked into his eyes, he was hiccuping a bit, again like a child who has just cried her/his heart out, eyes brightly shining from the grateful tears, but a slight smile on his face. He clutched the bag of food to his chest, still trembling. I gave him another quick hug and said that we would be back……and we do care.
Last night, we saw him again—he did not cry, but his face was shining with gratitude that we came back. He seemed a little overwhelmed at the fact that we also had new, clean socks and underwear to offer last night. Overwhelmed, but oh, so grateful.
By Linda Cuff
Another man, we’ve known for several months, very friendly, happy to see us, as if we’ve come for a ‘visit’ as old friends. He looks like he could be your next door neighbor, or work in the office next to you, someone you’d see in church, have over for dinner. We always chat a bit, he takes some food, but is more interested in talking. But his conversation, always in a pleasant tone,—– is strange. He confides in us about his work with ‘the government’, how he helps the elected officials of our city/state, counseling them about major decisions they wrestle with. He talks lovingly of his ‘babies’…….the dead rats that are strewn around his ‘home’. He calls his home his ‘base of operations’, and keeps us up to date on his ‘field missions’. A very pleasant, friendly………..damaged (how?) man.
By Linda Cuff