I found myself for the first time in years at a fast food place.  I knew they had free Wi-Fi so I could work on my blog while I was waiting for my daughter who was at the doctor’s.  The “golden arches” gave me my first job and the familiar scents of breakfast wafting around me brought back all sorts of happy memories.  Of course I ordered critter free before taking my seat at a booth near the windows.  And then I looked up and saw this man.  He was sitting on the wall outside but facing the restaurant.  To me that suggested that he did not feel comfortable coming in but still wanted company.  My father spent many years on the street ministering to the homeless.  I learned after my father died not to judge.  Things that seem so black and white just aren’t.  I found myself angry that a couple of retired old white guys just kept staring at him with disgust.  The man was doing nothing wrong.  I did not have any cash but I was thrilled to learn I could still purchase a gift certificate with my credit card.  It wasn’t a lot but I knew he could stretch several meals out of it.  I worked on my laptop and waited until the man came in to go to the restroom.  As he was headed back out, as casually as I could, I stopped him, smiled, and said, “for later” as I handed him the gift card.  His hazy dark blue eyes cleared for a second as he focused on me, careful not to touch me, and he said a shocked, “Thank you.”  I nodded and went back to my seat.  In Matthew 25:40 it says:

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

For one brief moment, as I was handing him the card, I felt the most unusual tingle run up my arm and down my spine.  When I looked directly in his eyes I thought to myself, you have just seen the face of God.