Have You Seen Me? ~ Homeless Person ~ Living Each Day

Have you seen me?

I push a cart with my life's treasures
enclosed in a plastic bag.

My face is unshaven and dirty,
my clothes are tattered.
There is even an odor to me.

Your eyes lower when we pass,
as if visual contact would erase my existence.
I am here by my own submission to
hopelessness you say...
You are "cartless" by God's Grace.

I am not sure I believe in God.
If He is real, I would be soaking my old
blistered feet in a hot sudsy tub of water.
Have you ever seen feet like mine?

I remember when I was younger reading a
Bible passage where Jesus washed
the feet of the men He loved.
You wouldn't even cast your eyes my way to
acknowledge my feet.
I am invisible to the likes of the
high and mighty who have homes.

Have you felt my hunger?
When you say to a friend "I'm starved,"
do you have any true idea of what it means
to go without bread for days?
My reservation at the local garbage dump
is always honored,
You would be welcome there.

Have you heard my request for spare change?
Your usual answer of "I don't have any," is a blatant lie,
I won't drink it away or shoot it up,
I just want a cup of coffee and a piece of bread.

When you see my sleeping on cardboard with blankets
or newspaper to cover me do I repulse you?
I once slept in a king size bed with
plaid sheets that smelled of downy.

When I lost my job and my family
had enough of my alcoholism,
I left to free them of my pain.
My one noble act, cowardly as it may be,
at least kept my wife and child united
without the likes of me.

Have you ever looked into the face
of someone who wonders daily,
"Is this all there is?"
I think your eyes won't surrender to
my physical image because of fear.

I am...YOU...maybe tomorrow,
maybe never,
but there is always that possibility.

Next time look, LOOK at me.
I also am a creature of God...
Dirty, cold, hungry, and hopeless,
but I heard that I am in the
image of God.

So next time when those eyes cower, look at my feet.
Then slowly absorb the figure up to my face.
I at least deserve an educated glance.

I pray for you though I question God's existence
and hearing abilities, for Him to
change your heart.

Maybe someday our eyes will meet and you will hand me
a hot cup of coffee and a sandwich.
Maybe you will realize how fragile having a home
and a family are to your journey in life.

HAVE YOU SEEN ME?
I HAVE SEEN YOU
I PRAY GOD WILL FORGIVE YOUR APATHY.
I PRAY THAT THERE WILL BE A
SEASON OF CHANGE AND THE
RIGHTEOUS LOVE OF THE HOMELESS
AND HELPLESS WILL COEXIST.
I CHALLENGE YOUR EYES TO SEE ME.

I AM THE HUMBLE.
I AM THE HOMELESS.

The above story was purportedly written by a homeless person who had
spent the night in a shelter leaving his story behind.

BACK HOME EMAIL

JOIN

Midi playing ~ "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen"
Source ~ Sounds Wright ~ Sequencer Roly Wright

I believe there are many ways in which we can reach out to the homeless:
...provide food for the food shelves in your area
...volunteer at a shelter
...share clothes that no longer fit
...take a person to a cafe and buy coffee and a sandwich for him/her
...carry coupons for food/restaurants and distribute to those needing them

Thanks for caring! Adelle