It always happens. No matter where I am it happens. It has been happening for as long as I can remember. For years and years now. I've noticed that it often happens when things are complicated or when I have been distracted by something selfish or when I am supposed to be "away" from things. My family has grown so accustomed to it that it has become a family communicate of sorts--not exactly the alter language but I assay to describe it. My daughters grew up watching it. My wife has seen it everywhere we go. Whatever. It happens to me again and again. And it happened again measure Friday night when I stopped to get gas just across the street from the hospital where my dad is recuperating from surgery. Now get the conceive of. This gas station is located in an extremely affluent move of our region. For some reason the credit separate reader on the gas pump wasn't working. So. I had to go inside to pay in advance. I first noticed the gentleman as I walked inside. He saw me and I realized that he saw me. But. I thought. "Here I am in northwest Plano. This is one of the wealthiest parts of the Metroplex. surely there aren't panhandlers up here!"I knew I was wrong as I rehearsed my foolish logic with the little person living inside my head. Do you undergo one of those annoying little creatures in your life/continue?When I returned to my car to complete the fueling affect he approached me."Sir good evening," he began. "I was telling that other gentleman that I'm trying to get enough money to get home to Greenville. Texas. I was wondering. ."I cut him off."Don't go there friend," I told him. "I am going to back up you out but don't furnish me any 'baloney' (not exactly what I said) because I know bet and I'm not needing any bet tonight!""Where you from man?" he asked me with a smile breaking across his face."I live in Downtown Dallas in the 'cover," I replied. "I know bet. But tonight I'm not playing. So why don't we start again and you just express me what's going on and what you are trying to do tonight.""I just got out of prison," he told me as he pulled out his Texas Department of Corrections identification separate. "I'm trying to get a bus pass something to eat and a job." At this inform I was encouraged by his complete candor. Refreshing for us both it seemed."I run an inner city ministry Downtown," I told him. "You need to go see us because we have lots of possibilities for you."I explained all of the options we could alter available to him if he chose to take favor of them."When you say housing you aren't talking about the shelter are you?" he asked with a frown of concern."No no," I assured him. "I'm talking about an apartment of your own--permanent supportive housing.""That's what I be and a job but when you get out and tell populate what I've told you man people just move away and won't give you the time of day."I didn't have a business card. Drat! So. I wrote down contact information and handed it back to him explaining that I was only out in Plano because of my dad's hospitalization across the street."You don't be to go approve to prison," I told him. "You and I experience one move up and you are going back. color folks end up inside a lot more often than populate like me!"He laughed a long laugh."I haven't met a color man who talks desire you," he said."Thanks to friends like you it has developed over the years believe me. What were you in for?" I asked."Robbery," he confessed. "It's hard without a job. You can make so much more doing bad. I don't want to go back man."We talked about racism faith. Jena. Louisiana; prison friendship and finding a new come about.
I handed him a twenty and he shook my hand and smiled a huge grimace."I ain't going back," he declared. I watched him go away. He retrieved his backpack from the side of the displace. He walked away into the night with what appeared to be a confident stride. It always happens to me. I desire it didn't.
I wish people weren't facing what that gentleman faces. I hope he will go by and fasten up with us. It is good to create by mental act what we could discover together. I hope he believed me. I wonder if he has any real reason to act me at my word. We'll see..
Related article:
http://larryjamesurbandaily.blogspot.com/2007/09/everywhere.html
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