Yesterday I had a short break for Dinner...

Yesterday I had a short break for Dinner... and on the way in a guy asked me for spare change. I didn't have much change so I told him so... I was at "Food Land" a chinese/mexican fast food restaurant for a short break and dinner. The portions at "Food Land" are extra-large working-class to guarentee that you don't leave hungry. The size of the portions made it clear that I would either eat too much, or share this... I went back outside and asked the young man if he wanted to share my food.

After a puzzled hesitation he came in and I pointed to the extra plate I had set asside. I let him know that I have been hungry in the past and I was willing to share my abundance. He indicated that he was willing to take his food outside. I said you can eat with me. A small smile broke on his face... I was seeking to treat him as a young man and an equal... and not a beggar. He ate as quickly as possible not neglecting any of the details of coutesy that he had grown up with... He shared a few facts with me... he was homeless... Originally from Mexico... that his family could not support him there and so he had come here looking for a better life...

When he had finished he excused himself and when I left he said thanks. The marks of struggle on this young soul's face, hands, and in his eyes are etched on my soul. I also feel that Jesus made the opportunity here a blessed sacred space. Food offered and given is not always recieved with gratitude.

Some of the people out on the streets who are begging for money are genuinely hungry.

Another way this Christmas season to be generous to the poor and homeless...

Clean socks and good shoes are a constant need for the homeless and the working poor. Sticking an extra pair of socks in your coat pocket is one way to offer something other than food. If you feet get messed up then so does your mobility... in some cases it makes the difference of being able to get out of harms way.

You can often tell by looking whether someone has a need in this department. Responding to a real felt need is human. A genuine smile is just as important as meeting a real need. Sometimes food is not the real need.

Also got this tip from my friend Kathy.

Hi my friends with various Podiatry concerns!

I was reading in a medical journal recently of this treatment for nail fungus...perhaps if anyone has nail fungus they can try it out personally and let us know in 6-12 months if it works. As you may know the standard medication also takes 6 months of treatment and costs $700 and most insurances do not cover this.

Rub Vicks VapoRub into scrubbed toenails twice a day for 6-12 months is alternative therapy!

Much love guys!
Kathy

Sharing food is a lifestyle. There are many paths to prayer...

I have been very busy. So I have had less time to stop and share tangilbe meals with friends. But my discipline has made me more aware of those around me that are hungry. The irony that I start reaching for food in response to stress has added a smile to my face; Now it is another reminder to pray for my friends and not just another craving. We pray, "give US this day Our daily bread."

This year I around before the Thanksgiving holiday I prayed for Turkeys. A prayer that comes from having hungry friends. I asked a church contact that had provided Turkeys for Thanksgiving last year... they had already promised the food to others... Latter on they came through with 3 bags of food but no actual turkeys...

Now I am not talking about handing out Turkeys to strangers... but to hungry Friends and Neighbors.

Wednessday night the day before Thanks Giving... I was on the way to celebrate a friends Birthday (a Shout out to David... we are just growing older... and hopefully wiser...) ... Christy who works for APU called me up on Jude's Cell phone and said they had placed a student with an organization... that chose to support the striking Hotel and Restaurant workers in Los Angeles by providng food for the holiday. They came through for them with plenty. They had extra food and 100 extra turkeys to give out.

That same day Dan a friend and past IC intern was visiting with Kathy and Reina in our neighborhood. They were able to go and pick up 15 Turkeys. More than we needed. (I am learning that God can answer prayers without me being part of it; this is the flip side of learning that sometimes God's provision is within my power and responsibility.)

The fun part of this is the "more than enough" that was provided at the last minute for more people than I had thought of... and we still have a couple Turkeys to share... and so it goes...

Thank you God!!!

Thank you Christy for being the unplanned connection for this secrete prayer request. Thank you all who have been involved in being part of this answer to prayer.

When we know those whose needs are greater than what we have to give... it gives us a chance to learn to pray... to cry out to God!

See Isaiah 58...

Lose the meals and grab the Junk...

My diet takes time. Today I am stopping the rushing to reflect on life...

and I have been not taking care of myself for a couple of days... the rush continues...

I am sick now with a sinus infection... add this to the fact that my whole body is telling me to slow down...

it is this blog that is challenging me and draging me back to the awareness that eating right is part of loving myself. A for of self reflection in public space...

I have missed breakfast the last 3 or 4 days. And then compensated for this at other meals...
I have started to grab the Holiday Junk food that is so available...
I have started to eat more than I need to at the clebrations that I am invited to...

This is all part of the holiday rush...
In the past I would pick up a pound or two each Christmas / New Years...

This year I am breaking even...

The missing element is exercise...

Humility feeds insight back to the soul... I am improving because I have remained conscious of myself and my neighbor... our conditions of life are connected.