I had left-overs from going out to eat with some of the guys. (Papusas are a mainstay in the diet of El Salvador.) Jesus Barajas, one of Maria's sons came along, so it was natural to walk him home. Before I left, Maria -- One of my favorite mothers in our neighborhood -- came home. Suddenly the extra calories that I would have eaten became a gift... She told me that she loves Pupusas... I would have never known because she's from Mexico.
The food also provided space and time for us to talk. She did not have to fix herself something. So we relaxed and talked together. She is promising to help me with my Spanish and I her English. She also promised to pray for Jude and my Father-In-law, Mark. She had learned of his sickness from a mutual friend. She reminded me that Jude would need my support and insisted on getting our telephone number so she could call Jude to encourage her.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Thom and the Tropical Barbeque
I met Thom by the Tropical Barbeque. He was to be my first guest for lunch.
I went into the Tropical Barbeque and bought my $5.00 lunch that I like to get from them on Tuesday Afternoons after my Net radio show. Split the meat, rice, Potato Salad, and lettuce into two equal portions (the lid served as a great plate for the second half of the food). I brought the food out then to share with him...
He said thanks... and began to eat... I said Thank you (he's helping me eat less). He was surprised that I sat on the step with him to eat. I was going to eat lunch somewhere... and I was the one who would benefit from his company... because he encouraged me in my new diet by his gratitude.
Soon he began to talk with me... he had just got out of the hospital. Sure there was alcohol on his breathe, but he was hungry and the alcohol was a street level pain reliever. I asked him if he was originally from LA... he said that he had move her from Indianapolis... He had worked as a gardener for the city for several years... that was a good job... but one day on the job he was attacked and badly damaged... "I still have nightmares"... not long after that trauma I lost my job and started recycling...
It is amazing how common the people who are homeless or people who become homeless have also been victims of trauma.
He shared with me several stories... including how the F%*#@ Police had given him a ticket for taking a shopping cart from a grocery store for recycling. I told him that the police are just like us... human and they got to do their job and that some of them are mean and others are OK. (I too have been handcuffed and called some bad names by a policeman while I was breaking up a fight in where a kid in a gang was beating up another kid... that doesn't mean they are all like that...) He told me that he was not sure what he was going to tell the judge... I told him tell him the truth... You wish you had a job, that you have no money, and You recycle cause that is how you have learned to survive... that if the court wanted you to go in to jail for the ticket that that would mean 3 meals and a bed to sleep on for a while... if not... any help getting a job would be greatly appreciated. He said... "I tell him just that"...
We talked on a few other topics... when our conversation turned to suffering and faith...
I shared with him how learning how to pray simple prayers have helped me with my experiences with trauma. I taught him what is commonly known as The Jesus Prayer' "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have Mercy on me a sinner." I said, "I have been praying that prayer ever since a monk friend taught it to me since 8th grade... and it has helped me a lot". He seemed to cling to these words of hope and griped my hand and said, "Thank You... I needed to hear someone who would share truth for real with me."
After my lunch hour was up and I indicated that I was going to go... he asked, "Will I see you again?" I said, "I usually come here on Tuesdays"... He said... "I hope to see you next Tuesday then..."
I said, "Thanks man that would be great"... he said, "No, Thank you, before I met you here I felt like shit... and I feel a lot better now."
This has warmed my heart even more to the idea that It is a win-win situation for me to share my food with the hungry.
I went into the Tropical Barbeque and bought my $5.00 lunch that I like to get from them on Tuesday Afternoons after my Net radio show. Split the meat, rice, Potato Salad, and lettuce into two equal portions (the lid served as a great plate for the second half of the food). I brought the food out then to share with him...
He said thanks... and began to eat... I said Thank you (he's helping me eat less). He was surprised that I sat on the step with him to eat. I was going to eat lunch somewhere... and I was the one who would benefit from his company... because he encouraged me in my new diet by his gratitude.
Soon he began to talk with me... he had just got out of the hospital. Sure there was alcohol on his breathe, but he was hungry and the alcohol was a street level pain reliever. I asked him if he was originally from LA... he said that he had move her from Indianapolis... He had worked as a gardener for the city for several years... that was a good job... but one day on the job he was attacked and badly damaged... "I still have nightmares"... not long after that trauma I lost my job and started recycling...
It is amazing how common the people who are homeless or people who become homeless have also been victims of trauma.
He shared with me several stories... including how the F%*#@ Police had given him a ticket for taking a shopping cart from a grocery store for recycling. I told him that the police are just like us... human and they got to do their job and that some of them are mean and others are OK. (I too have been handcuffed and called some bad names by a policeman while I was breaking up a fight in where a kid in a gang was beating up another kid... that doesn't mean they are all like that...) He told me that he was not sure what he was going to tell the judge... I told him tell him the truth... You wish you had a job, that you have no money, and You recycle cause that is how you have learned to survive... that if the court wanted you to go in to jail for the ticket that that would mean 3 meals and a bed to sleep on for a while... if not... any help getting a job would be greatly appreciated. He said... "I tell him just that"...
We talked on a few other topics... when our conversation turned to suffering and faith...
I shared with him how learning how to pray simple prayers have helped me with my experiences with trauma. I taught him what is commonly known as The Jesus Prayer' "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have Mercy on me a sinner." I said, "I have been praying that prayer ever since a monk friend taught it to me since 8th grade... and it has helped me a lot". He seemed to cling to these words of hope and griped my hand and said, "Thank You... I needed to hear someone who would share truth for real with me."
After my lunch hour was up and I indicated that I was going to go... he asked, "Will I see you again?" I said, "I usually come here on Tuesdays"... He said... "I hope to see you next Tuesday then..."
I said, "Thanks man that would be great"... he said, "No, Thank you, before I met you here I felt like shit... and I feel a lot better now."
This has warmed my heart even more to the idea that It is a win-win situation for me to share my food with the hungry.
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