compassion Idk what day it is
I skipped a bunch of days in there. Oh well.
Today I'm thinking about Norman. Norman is a guy in our neighborhood who lives on the street. Norman is gentle natured and kind. He seems to be in his 40s and has dark black hair and tan brown skin. He's a little on the round side, but he appears to have once had a strong build, athletic. I've started seeing him around in the last year. He almost never asks for anything. I've almost never seen him ask anyone for anything and I've never seen him with a sign. But he's out there on the streets almost every day. I ask him if he needs water or food or anything, and he usually declines. When I offer to pray for him, he always accepts. I don't know what I can do for Norman.
Today I saw Norman when I was having a meeting outside a Starbucks near where I live. I said hello and introduced him to my friend. He asked what we were up to. I told him we were having a meeting and Norman smiled, stuck around a bit and then walked off. After my meeting, I intended to go and chat with him. I went inside so I could take my dog for a walk, and saw Norman sitting on a bench. When my dog had done his business, I came back out to look for Norman and he was nowhere to be found. I walked the area a bit, looking for him.
While I was walking, I was thinking about how I could serve Norman. Something that came to mind was sacrificing some things that I love in order to meet the needs and requests that Norman may have. Maybe he has family somewhere and needs to go back to them. Maybe he needs a job and it would help him to get new clothes. I don't quite know what it is - but I'm hoping I see him in the next day or two to find out what he needs.
Matthew 25:34-43New Living Translation (NLT)
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[a] you were doing it to me!’
41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.[b] 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
