The Date:                      July 19, 2009; 12:20 p.m., Central Standard Time            

The Place:                     The Bridge, Dallas' Homeless Shelter

The Human Form:          A big black guy, sporting a gold tooth, who looked like he could smoosh me with one hand

Dear Girlfriends,

It is only fitting that I end this series on my angel-sightings with the first one that really caught my attention.

As was typical on a third Sunday, Steve and I were serving lunch to our city's homeless; Steve was slinging hash behind the serving line and, as was customary, I was playing waitress as I raced around the dining hall refilling water glasses.

My customers and I have grown comfortable with one another. I know that for the most part, they're good people who have just fallen on tough times, and they believe I'm Sandy Duncan. Regardless of my protests, they're convinced. Geez - how embarrassing to be 50 years old and have the physique of Peter Pan!

Anyway - on that hot July afternoon, I was "in the zone", running around the room with my water pitcher (you can imagine trying to rehydrate 500 people when it's 100 degrees outside), when I saw a woman place her tray on the table a few feet away. New to our lunch patrons, I approached her from the left and bending down, as I do with all of the folks there, looked into her eyes. I softly addressed her, "Ma'am, would you like some water today?" But instead of the customary positive, grateful response, she sprung from her chair, knocking it backwards. As she yelled at me to "stop looking at her," I lowered my eyes and backed away. I'll be honest: In my nearly two years of serving, it was the only time I have been nervous or frightened.

The lady continued to yell as she left the dining hall - her tray of food intact on the table. I took a deep breath and was walking back to retrieve her tray when a man, bigger than three of me, reached for my arm. I held my breath and then he asked: "Are you OK?"

My tall, dark, homeless angel - whose troubles that day were way more serious than my startle - was genuinely concerned for me. I'm sure I was pale as a ghost, but as he flashed his "streets of gold" smile and began to assure me that I had done nothing wrong and that she was "just sick," I was quickly comforted.

My homeless angel taught me, if asked at just the right moment, "Are you OK?" can be a powerful question of compassion turning one's vulnerability and fear into assurance.

I also realized that, if asked at just the right moment, "Are you OK?" can also be a generous offer to join someone in their despair transforming loneliness and isolation into a community of two.

But when asked by a total stranger that hot July day, "Are you OK?"  became a simple request to join someone else in her humanity. These three little words were the catalyst that connected our hearts and souls - if only for a moment.

"...make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." - Philippians 1:2-4

I will close this series for now but am sure I will return to it in the future because if there is anything I learned on July 19, 2009, it was to pay attention to the heavenly and earthly beings who bless my life every day.

On the lookout,

Ellen

Posted by Ellen on May 3, 2010 1:26 PM  |  Category: An Angel Bombing