J, Rooster, Spoons

Our town has quite a ham in it. . .he is called by many names. . .J, Rooster, Spoons.  He is not homeless but he is in extreme poverty.  He rides his bicycle to our Homeless Outreach Ministry at the bridge every Tuesday evening and talks in his loud voice to all who will listen.  He said his home was cold and asked for some blankets.  I gave him some.  He asked for some gloves.  We only had one pair and I told him I would like to save those for one who has to sleep out in the cold weather. He understood. If he needs a pair next week, he will have one.  He asked my husband and I to buy him a pack of cigarrettes.  We said no, only because we didn't want to get into that realm of others expecting us to buy them something because we did for J, although the homeless in 3 1/2 years, have never asked me for anything.

Some don't like that I give rooster a couple of blankets.  They think he might go sell them for his cigarrettes.  That is not known.  It could be true.  It could be false.  At this point, I don't care.  I gave him a couple of blankets, so there won't be any need to give him anymore.

 

Jack comes across as a happy fellow.  Some think he is full of crap.  Again, he may be. I don't know.  What I do know when I look at Spoons, is a man who lives in poverty, a man who seems to have lived a hard life, for whatever reason.  The reasons do not matter to me. I see a man who tears up when he tells me about his brother, who has all kinds of problems.  He goes on and on about the brother as if he is disgusted, but you can tell there is love there. I see a man who smiles so big I think his mouth is going to crack when he tells me about someone listening to him playing the spoons.  I see a man who needs love, unconditional love, a man who needs to be accepted, a man who wants to know that he counts for something in this world.  Does that not describe most of us, if not all?

Jesus came into this world to love the unlovables, the dirty, the sinful, the ruffians. . .people.  I believe a lot of people look at J. and ignore him, walk on by not giving him the time of day.  I like J. He makes me laugh, he makes my heart sigh with sorrow, he makes me just want to like him.  My husband likes him to. And if we turn away, he won't see Jesus in us.  And Jesus is who He needs, and it's through people who won't turn away where he will see.  That is worth it to me, even if he is full of crap.  Because Jesus can work through the muck and mire and crap and make something beautiful.

 

I already think J. is beautiful, in his own way. . .with some you have to look harder, but for me with Rooster, all I have to do is look deep into his eyes. . .and I see me as the one long ago who needed unconditional love, to be accepted, to need to feel like I belonged. . .and Jesus looked back and said, "Here I am!"