A Different Kind of Recipe

His sign says "will work for food".  I don't have a job I can offer him; so I really can't help him...You never know if they're going to use the money for drugs or alcohol...I've read where homeless people make a decent living begging, and some aren't even homeless...It can be dangerous to help them...

These were the excuses that rolled one after the other through my mind when I thought of Bill.  Bill is the one-armed man that lives under the bridge about a mile from my office.  I've seen him plenty of times, but for a reason I cannot fathom, I've never done anything for him.  I even dreaded catching the red light and having to sit in my car just feet away from the scruffy man that uses his one good arm to hold a sign.  

Something shifted in my thoughts yesterday.  These excuses aren't helping me sleep at night anymore, and they sure aren't doing anything for Bill.

As with most things, I have Holt to thank for my new perspective.  We've talked about the one-armed man under the bridge before, but we've very rarely done anything about it.  A couple of days ago, Holt realized he had some spare cash when he was driving by and gave it to the homeless man.  He introduced himself as Bill, shook Holt's hand, thanked him, and sent him off with a "God bless you".  Later, Holt took me to lunch and we stopped at the red light beside Bill and gave him a homeless package.  A homeless package contains a tooth brush and paste, deodorant, energy bars, wet wipes and other helpful items.  My mother assembled the package and keeps one in her car, as well.  As we drove away from Bill, he was getting his tooth paste out to brush his teeth.    

Now I can't stop thinking about Bill.  I thought about how cold he must be last night as I laid in my bed.  I thought about what I could bring him for lunch today.  I thought about how Holt wants to drive the hour and a half to Memphis this weekend just so he can take Bill to church with us.  The truth of the matter is Bill is a son of the Most High, created in the image of God, a brother of Christ, and Jesus in disguise.  

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

(Matthew 25:35-40 ESV)

I don't have a traditional recipe for you because I'm still eating leftovers from Thanksgiving, but I have a different kind of recipe.

What to put in a care package for a homeless person:

Socks, long underwear

Hygiene products: combs, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, tissues, wet wipes, hand sanitizer First aid supplies: antibacterial ointment, band aids

Lightweight snacks: energy bars, a gift card to a restaurant nearby like Subway or McDonalds

Put any combination of these items and anything else you think would be helpful and light-weight in a bag and keep in your car for when you see Jesus under the bridge.

Bill wears shoes size 10.5-11 and size large shirts.  He has a prosthetic arm that he can wear to do work, and he will work for food.