Sometimes I Write

“Eat all your vegetables because there are hungry children in China”. Some mothers will say just about anything to get their kids to clean their plates. Well my friends…there are hungry children in Denver tonight, and maybe even in your city too.

Our family and Cassandra had a good time hanging out with our street friends tonight at Shakespeare’s pool hall. It seems that there are new kids there everytime we go. I met some new people and had a few really good conversations. I can’t help but smile when I see Cheeto coming towards me to give me his bear hug. Just his presence puts me at ease.

After pool night was over we walked down to the park where local churches take turns bringing a hot meal for the kids on Thursdays. No one was there. After a phone call to the coordinator, we discovered that somehow the schedule was messed up and there was nobody signed up to bring food tonight. My heart sank as Robbie told everyone there wouldn’t be any food available. I heard several people say, “what are we going to do now?” with disappointment in their voices. For some, that’s the only hot meal they get every week. I was frustrated as I brainstormed with another lady about what to do. It’s not as easy as just calling in a pizza order. There were about 60 people there, and we only had a certain amount of time to be there, not to mention the cost. None of us had cash on us. I found two half full bags of chips in my van and gave them to Desiree along with the juice box from Pete’s diaper bag. She was grateful, but I knew it wasn’t enough. Never in my life have I wished so badly that I was rich. I wish I could have loaded everyone up in a bus and taken them out to eat, then sent them on their way with leftovers for the next day. I wished a lot of things tonight, but none of them made it possible for me to feed my friends that live on the streets. As news spread, they all slowly went their own directions, some to find food, some to fight, some to hang out, and some to find shelter for the night.

My heart still hurts. Please God, be with Desiree, Jen, Angel, Dale, Nicole, Dave, TeeTee, Baby Ty and his parents, and all of my friends downtown. Give them food and shelter tonight. Meet them where they are and reveal yourself to them. Please calm my spirit and show me how to trust you more. Amen.