UNDER THE BRIDGE: The Lazarus Issue

Sunday, August 10, 2014

     Cardboard made a great insulator between him and the ground.  The harshness of the dirt and twigs - or concrete - covered in this easily available padding made the earth more receptive and more comfortable when laying down on it.  Add a blanket to this formula and it doesn’t get much better than this…when you’re homeless.  A sleeping bag is a great step above that, but too warm in the summer time.

     He would sleep in this manner night after night – even when it rained.  He knew there was no other place to go.  He would pull the blanket tighter around him and maybe throw a sheet of plastic over his “bedroom.”  Yes, the cardboard would get soggy, but it would dry sooner or later.  Then he would just lay the old blanket over the cardboard and sleep on it, instead of using it for cover. 

     The old cardboard and the blanket would so very gradually attract bugs and mildew that he never noticed the pungent odor and the squirming little black spots on his blanket.  Neither did he concern himself with the red spots on his legs when he would wake up in the early morning.  Gradually, these red spots grew in size and changed colors to blue and black.  When he would receive his meager disability deposit at the end of the month, he figured he would find a place to clean up and he would be alright.

     However, the beer readily consumed his disability check.

     A generous soul gave him some sanitizing wipes which helped, but did not remove the festering infectious spot on his left lower leg.  After a couple months, not even the beer would kill the unbearable pain in his leg.  He had to find relief.  He went to the local church clinic for the homeless, which referred him to a doctor at another clinic, which referred him to a hospital, which referred him to a surgeon.

     The surgeon had to amputate his left leg below the knee.  They provided him with a simple prosthesis; and he was returned to the street from whence he came. 

     Now, I know that as you read this, you have all kinds of wonderful solutions that would have prevented such a calamity.  But John has issues, as we all do.  However, his issues are serious enough to handicap him.  His issues make it hard for him to move forward and better his situation and his life.  John is one of 1400 homeless people with issues in our city and county.

     I just saw John today for the first time in four and a half months.  We hugged tightly like long lost brothers when I found him in the street in a wheel chair in the shade of a colorful, pink Crepe Myrtle.  And brothers we are.  John loves the Lord as much as he is sure of his salvation, having had all his sins forgiven by the blood of Jesus on that old rugged cross. 

“John, where have you been the past 4 ½ months?

“I been in jail,” he stated mater-of-fact.”

“What were you in jail for?” I asked, surprised.

“This guy robbed me at my camp.”

“And…you found him…and…you beat him up?”

He looked me straight in the eye, but did not answer me.

“You glad to be out?”

“Oh yea, oh yea!”

     Contrary to common belief, jail is not welcomed by the homeless.  The roof above their heads and a dry bed does not equal the freedom they have in the street.  Their main complaint is the terrible food…not to mention the lack of beer.

     It took me a long time to get to know John; about a year of ministering to him every week.  But when he finally let me in, I found a loving, gentle man with a heart for God.  When that man gives a hug, you know he means it.  He is very strong, with the short stocky build and large hands of a boxer, though lately he has lost weight. The Lord has put a love in our hearts for His precious child whom God loves so much.  My brother in Christ Bill and I have a close relationship with John.  John loves Bill to death – literally, as he hugs poor old Bill so tight every time he sees him.

     Though he had been drinking, one day, Bill and I asked him if we could pray for him.  After a short prayer for his well-being, he said HE now wanted to pray.  Out of that man’s heart and mouth came the sweetest, most touching prayer which was not for himself but for others he knew and for whom he was concerned.  Certainly, his prayer was heard and received by God in heaven above.  It put tears in my and Bill’s eyes.

     Today, I find him in a wheel chair which a charity had provided for him.  Next to him, on the wheel chair, is his prosthesis which he lifts up and proclaims, “This thing needs fixin.”

"This thing needs fixin'!"

     Though I asked him how I could help, he replied that it was all taken care of and he was going to get it fixed tomorrow, Monday.  He was also going to get some new clothes given to him on that day. Thank God for generous and Godly souls in our town.  I handed him a couple of cheeseburgers for which he was very thankful. 

     I asked him if there was anything he needed that I could get him. Anything at all.

     No, nothing.  Nothing.

     With a big smile on his face, he reached up from his wheel chair and gave me a big ‘ol John hug, holding on to my neck tightly for a long time, releasing me only when he remembered I may have a need to breath. 

     When I left, I felt that I was the one that had been ministered to.  That’s how God works.  The more you give to God, the more He gives back!  Glory to His Holy Name!  John and I will walk on streets of gold, one day.  Praise the Name of Jesus Christ!

“At (the rich man’s) gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.  Even the dogs came and licked his sores.  The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.  The rich man also died and was buried.  In hell where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.”  Luke 16:30    



     Good night, folks, and God bless y'all.

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