Charlie

It seems like, since relocating here to Florida, I'm noticing things that I either never noticed before or that I got conditioned to NOT seeing while living in the rural mid-west. We are only a short distance from Tampa so I know that has a lot to do with it. I've noticed, of course, that most everyone here is tan...that's a no brainer...but I've also noticed that a lot more people here have tattoos. Like, a LOT of tattoos. Or is it that people here wear a lot less clothing because it's so hot? Hmmm... I definitely didn't miss the traffic while living in Kansas. The house we live in here is about 1/4 mile from an 8-lane highway. That's our way in and out of our neighborhood.
Anyway, one thing you can't miss is the number of homeless people. I've lived in areas with homeless people before, but here they seem to be at every intersection. It really changes your perspective because homelessness is something I could easily forget about where we were living for the past three years. Out of sight, out of mind I guess. Well, when you hit 8 intersections on your drive home...what do you do? Pretend they're not there? Hand them money and hope they use it for food? Smile and nod and try not to feel guilty that you're in an air-conditioned vehicle heading home to your air-conditioned home? What about your kids who quite possibly know the same verses that are coming to your mind about helping those in need? Are they really in need or are they in this situation because of poor choices? If that's so, aren't they still in need? I hadn't verbalized any of this to anyone else when last Saturday night we were driving home from a sweaty walk on a nature trail. We decided to take a few shortcuts and experimented with some side streets to avoid traffic. As we neared the end of a street, we drove past an obviously homeless man who was sitting on a wooden box. He wasn't holding a sign or trying to get our attention. His head was down and he looked old, tired, hot. None of us said anything and we pulled out onto the main road. A few minutes later, Tim said he wanted to go back and see if "that man" needed something to eat. We pulled up and asked if he was hungry. He was, so we returned a short time later with some food from the nearest fast food restaurant. He was so grateful. He shook Tim's hand and pointed to the cross necklace he was wearing and said "Christ provides". We agreed with him. Tim asked him his name and he replied, "Charlie". Gracie started shouting from the back of the van, "Hi, Charlie!" He was pleased. After a few more words, we went on our way. He continued to say thank you as we left.
We have driven by to check on him a few times this week but he hasn't been there. I imagine we'll keep checking. He's been quite a topic this week as it wasn't until a few days later that Gracie realized that Charlie doesn't have a home. She suggested we go get him and have him live with us. "He needs a home, Mom." Hmmmm....