Tennis Shoes

 

 This was during my 2nd interview with Greg, homeless at the time one year ago.

We must have looked so different to them, the passerbyers at our downtown square; me, a small middle class white woman, he a big, dark homeless man. I looked down and saw our shoes.

 

 

Two souls created by God, both wearing our tennis shoes. I was thinking; Jesus died on the cross for both of.  Jesus loves us both the same.  We both have the freedom to make choices.  In his young life, Greg walked down one path, I walked down the other. 

 

I didn't know it at this time, but God was going to use these visits to bond the two of us together and form a friendship like none other I have ever had.  It was going to hit me straight in the heart, the good and the bad, the struggles and the laughter. . .the love for a big dark man that I did not see coming.  And later, it hit my husband too, straight in the heart.

 

5 weeks after meeting Greg, he chose that path I had chosen 38 years ago. Praise God!!! Neither of us ever dreamed he would be gone from this world a year later. 

 

My husband and I are experiencing that straight in the heart grief that I know will pass with time.  What gets me through it is knowing without a doubt that Greg is walking on streets of gold.

 

I wonder if he's wearing tennis shoes.

 

I think not.  He is on Holy Ground with the Savior.  I think his shoes can be retired.

Me, on the other hand, will keep wearing mine and keep walking downtown.  Greg would want me to do just that.