I was hungry, and you fed me.

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me..." -Matthew 25:35

Last night, I ate dinner with a homeless man. His name was Tony. Here is the story:

The roommates and I finished working out (still going strong at a little over a mile!) and then decided that we should go to Wendy's. You know, sticking with the healthy choices for after a good workout. I decided to go next door to Moe's and get a burrito instead. When I got back, I sat down at a table with Sarah's boyfriend Wes. This man came up and asked if he could sit next to me while he was waiting for his food. I said yes, for a reason that I still don't understand. At this point, I didn't know that my roommates were buying him dinner.

I started talking to him and by this point am realizing that he's definitely homeless and I have no idea why he is sitting next to me at a table in Wendy's. So Anne and Sarah come with food and they cram into one side of the booth with Wes. Me and Tony are sitting in chairs on the opposite side. He thanks us for letting him sit with us while he waited for his food. We tell him it was not a problem at all and then look expectantly at him to leave. Tony unwraps his burger and takes a bite.

Now, my response to awkward situations is often to start rambling on and asking lots of questions. Last night was no exception. He told us where he was from (North Carolina) and how he used to be a truck driver and traveled all around the country in his truck. His favorite state is Louisiana (for the gambling. Hmm.) and the prettiest state he has been to is Colorado. He also told us about all the kings of the Old Testament and about the Indians in North and South Dakota (then he told us we should all spend more time in the library when we didn't know our history).

It was a really strange experience. We talked afterward about how much it probably meant to him that we let me eat with us. His eyes lit up as he was telling us all about his adventures in Colorado. He was clearly moved that we cared to listen to him. I was very humbled. It's really easy to pass by someone on the street and not give a thought to their worth. I do it all the time. I have never once given money to a homeless person. Not once. So, why did we eat dinner with Tony last night? I have no clue. It's still very surreal to me.

One of my favorite book quotes is:

"It begins with just one step...Before you know it, those steps become a journey. I guarantee this will be the most fantastic journey you've ever been on. It's a journey that can take you across the ocean. A journey that can take you across cultural and economic barriers. A journey that you will never forget because of the people you will meet. And believe it or not, you'll recognize every one of them. They look like Jesus." -Red Letters by Tom Davis, p. 167

Last night I saw Jesus in a homeless man named Tony. It was really cool.