Signs are made from weathered cardboard boxes held by the hands of invisible people who stand on the side of the road. Invisible faces search for food to eat and a place to sleep. They live under bridges that stink and smell of bat urine. People in cars speed by quickly and glance away, trying not to look at the face of the one holding the cardboard sign. Some ask, “Where do they live?” or “Why are they in our neighborhoods?” Others assume they are just trifling, lazy drug addicts who can’t get a job.
Well, I know one of these invisible people, and her name is not weirdo, or crazy lady.
She sits on a milk crate parked too close to the curb, and her sign is neatly printed.
Christmas Gifts wanted:
A slice of Cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory
A blender
A radio
She wears a hat made from colorful shower loofahs. And though she looks quite strange to all who pass her by, she was an administrative assistant before she got laid off. She’s like any one of us—who just happened to fall on hard times but never got back up. Is the pink, purple, and green veil a cover from the world, or a cover to hide her shame?
She’s proud of her skills and can make something from nothing, but not a job. Two wire carts, with six wheels turned into one cart with four wheels to push her things to and fro. To go where? I don’t know.
Give her a little respect, she’s been on the streets fora while and somehow manages to stay alive. Give her a break. Take time to talk to her, she’s quite intelligent. Speak to her and she will tell you about her normal and why normal isn’t really normal at all.
Give her food. She loves sweets, citrus, sodas and all sorts of treats.
And money will help, too. She’s saving her money for a place all her own to call home.
How many of you have driven by a homeless person and had negative thoughts? Why? Where did they come from?
Think about what you heard. How did you know if it was true for all or just a few? I challenge you to allow your intuition to guide you when giving. There are many homeless faces on the streets and all of them are not always who they claim to be. But, if you are led by the Spirit like I was to this woman, then give some change and give a little hope during this season of giving. She’s not invisible; she has a name. It’s Toni with a capital T.