Tom Branch - Roads of Faith

It's been a rough few days. Seems I cannot concentrate as much in my readings and prayer time. Then again this is the time of the week where I am drained so very much with my weekend work schedule. Yet I ponder if there is something stirring in my heart for change.

The next six weeks will be fun and challenging. I signed up for two classes one on Systematic Theology and one for Mercy Ministries. They both sound fun and gives me two more times in the week to do soemthing of focus on God in some way. Great tiem to fellowship and learn a few things.

There is another book I need to go and buy. I was listening to For Faith and Family podcast, I need to stop listening I keep buying books from there, and it deals with regreats and forgiving oneself. Last ngiht at work, thankfully I was alone. I almost started crying in the middle of the podcast as it really did strike a point in my heart. It had me thinking. But work did eventually take me away from the focus on God. Which I had to as it was a very long and busy night last night.

But it did have me thinking and gave me soemthing of a recent topic for me. So I will have to check it out.

Now the fun part is Friday I was at the church office printing off the directories....yes it is finaly done!!! Well everyone went on lunch and I was left to "hold down the fort" as one said. So I did and enxt door is a car wash. And a bright yellow dumpster in the corner. I saw an older man walk up to it. He appearded to look normal, nothing indicated homless look or anything. And he was empty handed heading over to the bin.

My first thought was "I bet ya he is going to look inside." He did not see me as I was up on the second floor. So I had perfect, almost, room for observation. Sure enough he opened the lid and looked inside. I guess he did not find anything as he closed the lid and started to walk away.

He made it maybe 20 feet from the bin before he stops, pauses, looks back, and then heads back to the bin. Now I am pondering if he had second thoughts on something he saw inside. He lifts the lid again and shuts it. Now he walked around to the side of the bin out of my site. I thoguht he was going to get on top of it or look under it but I never saw any action while he was behind it.

Well he comes out from behind it and I see that he wet himself. As now there was a much darker spot in his crotch area and he was trying to adjust his clothing ot whatnot to cover it up. This was very sad to see. Now personaly I would have hidden in the corner and empty my bladder as fast as I could if I needed to go that bad. Find a bush or something. But this was not his choice it seems.

Now the sad part is this was a fairly residential areas in the Highlands with only a commercial road that we call Bardstown Rd. And only a block form a restaraunt where he could have went there. This was not an area that I would assume homelessness.

I was wrong.

Then the next night at work was yet another lesson. I had just got off of work so this was about 3:30 am, on a Friday night where I am a block away from a cruising point and a "worthless gentlemean's club" Yes I said worthless as I see nothign gentlemanly about those joints. And a white Castle is there too. So needless to say it can be scary getting of of work. Well there was a guy there asking me for some change so he could get a burger ffrom white castle. Typically I lie and say I have no change on me...well I normally don't. But I am not honest with it as for whatever safety reasons. This time that was not the case. I only had three cents. I searched and thats all I had three pennies. I told him that I only had three cents. His reply was a good smack in the face for me.

"That's three cents more than I have."

I so wanted to rethink my blessings and be thankful for what I have. I gave him my three pennies and I hope he did find enoguh for a burger. I have never seen anone happy over such a small amount. Pennies, how many of us think of them as nothing? As almost no worth. I don't even cound pennies as change. Until I get a mountain of them and cash them in. But a penny has nearly no value and this guy took every cent of value. Could really learn something from this guy.

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