He sat on the cement under the awning of a local store to shade him from the heat. His dog lapping deep heaves of air; he wiping sweat from his brow. There was a collection of half-used water bottles next to a backpack with his life’s possessions, donated by people who drank half of their drink and gave him the remains.

I smiled a small smile and uncomfortably shuffled on. Living in a city my whole life has made me anesthetized to homelessness. But poverty of soul, relationship, and community unnerve me… it breaks my heart. His face, his half smile, his panting dog spoke volumes without saying a word.

I want to live out the whole gospel, not a commercialized version of it. Not only on the parts that I want to, but the full principle of loving God with all that I am and loving my neighbor as I love myself. If I speak on stages and write behind computer screens, yet have not love, I’m nothing more than a clanging symbol, an annoying gong.

On the return back to the car, I resolved to:

  • Talk to him. Know him.
  • Give him more than half bottles of used water. Give him the full gospel. Give him love.
  • Treat him like he was me.
  • Ask how I could pray for him.
  • Don’t cry. [I have a horrible tendency to cry around poverty. It’s annoying. Just call me the weeping prophet.]

I neared the young kid and his dog like I was visiting an old friend. Hey man! Your dog is beautiful. How’s he doing in this heat? That one question made Dustin a real person, not just some guy with a need. We spoke about our love for dogs, the heat, and the odd weather we’ve had.

I asked if he needed anything. He declined saying he was fine. I insisted. He accepted.

Love your neighbor as you love yourself. The words repeated in my head over and over. Hey Dustin, what’s your favorite snack, I asked as I walked into the store. Nuts. I can share them with my friend, he replied as he gestured to his dog and smiled and I disappeared into the store.

I walked into the small market, grabbed a basket, and made a mental checklist. Nuts. Dog food. Gatorade. Crackers. Toilet paper. Snickers. Icecream. Doggy treats. Jerky. Multivitamins. Water. A full bottle of water.

I saw Dustin stroking his dog. His only friend. I knew he needed another one. I knelt down and handed him two bags of groceries, while pulling out an icecream sandwich… my favorite icecream sandwich. He was completely taken back. I asked how I could pray for him during the week. He told me he applied for a job at South Coast Plaza and hoped he’d get it. I told him I would pray for him as well as tell my friends to pray for him too… I hope you do.

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