James

No, not the book of James, but a person I met. James approached me on the Plaza in Kansas city recently asking for change. He is homeless. James is an older African American man, gray hair and wrinkles around the eyes. His worn military jacket spoke of his past. I sat for a while and talked with him, gave him my spare change and asked him if he had a place to stay because it was pretty cold out. He told me that he knew of a warm place to rest and that he would be fine for the night. He thanked me for the change, said "God bless you", and we parted ways. A few weeks went by and I saw James again this time I found him sleeping behind a fast food restaurant because the vent on the building was blowing warm air out. It broke my heart to see him like this, I called his name out softly to see if he was awake, he responded and stood up. I reminded him of our first meeting and he remembered. I offered to buy him some food but he declined. He said he had ate, I left James and again he said "God bless you", I turned to him and said the same.

To see someone less fortunate than yourself set aside their problems to bless you is a humbling experience. I couldn't help but to sit down and cry for James, I wish there was more I could do for him, that people in general could have more compassion in life. Please keep people like James in your prayers.