The Haunting Gaze

He has figured me out, I think. His hasty escape to the other side of the street betrays him; his soul laid bare through his nervous peripheral glances. He’s busy. If I had a family and demanding job, I might not have time for the likes of me either, I suppose. If I see him again, I might ask him. Wonder if he will look me in the eye?

She has figured me out, I think. Her fear of me is apparent. She doesn’t know I can see her terrified eyes behind those movie star sunglasses. I suppose I do look scary, in my minimal clothing, shivering here in this corner, hiding from the biting wind of the night. I probably would not want my wife or daughter to walk past me.

But if they knew Who sent me, I wonder if they would shudder?

I know why he just passed by without a glance. His budget is tight. His debts press against him. His dollars are allocated. He looks very comfortable, though. I hope he is. I wouldn’t want him to be uncomfortable. I am glad he will sleep well in his bed tonight. I wouldn’t want him to suffer this cold, hard sidewalk. He needs his sleep. He has earned it.

There she is again. She does not have her movie star sunglasses this time. Wonder if I can catch her gaze. If she will only look into my eyes, perhaps I can reach her. But she won’t look at me. I don’t blame her. It would be hard to look me in the eye and walk by. Her heart might tug, I think. And that tug might steal her sleep. Better not to look. Better to sleep peacefully.

If they knew Who sent me, I wonder if they would shudder?

He looks up at me from the pages of my bedding. He knows the One Who sent me. I know this because he uses His name . . . a lot. He even has His Word in his hand. I wonder if he has ever read it? Could he have read it and condemn me so? I can’t blame him for not helping me, though. If he did, I might suffer. I might choose this rocky pillow over a soft warm bed. But if he ignores me, I might get up and walk instead of wallowing here in my filth. He knows what he is doing; he is showing me compassion. Good for him.

He has figured me out. He knows why I sleep in agony, why I choose to sweat in the sweltering sun without shade or water to cool my tongue, why I toss and turn with a rumbling stomach, and why I allow bugs to crawl upon me and make me itch. He knows why I have dirt deep into my cuticles; he has seen me digging in the trash. He knows why I suffer. I am lazy. I am glad he knows me. If he didn’t, he might feel uncomfortable. He might buy me a meal instead of buying that dessert. But he deserves that dessert. He has worked hard for it. He needs to be comfortable.

If they knew Who sent me, I wonder if they would shudder?

He looks up at me once again from the pages of my bedding, my winter’s blanket sheltering me from the ice and snow. He is right, I’m sure. Government shouldn’t help me. It wastes money on the likes of me. I get in the way of their wars and bridges to nowhere. I get in the way of their vacations, and fancy cars, and electronic devices, and boats, and tithing. I am glad he has figured me out. He is wise and should not be duped.

She is right; I am here a lot. Where else have I to go? Which corner is more convenient for her? I will be glad to move there if it will comfort her. Shall I go off into the woods and die alone? She has figured me out. I am thirsty for ale and smoke. She must withhold her aid so as not to support my habits. I am thankful for her compassion. Otherwise, I would just numb my misery.

If they knew Who sent me, I wonder if they would shudder?

Do they know how much You love the likes of me? If so, would they pass to the other side of the street?

Do they know that when they turn from me they turn from You? If so, would they avoid my gaze?

Do they know that how they treat me demonstrates their love for You? If so, would they leave me here in the cold with a rumbling stomach?

Do they know that You sent me here to test their hearts? If they did, would they still turn from me?

Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.

---

In a flash, the shivering man disappeared, leaving behind a pile of filth and loneliness, soon to be swept away and burned up in the furnace.

The man’s face smiling from the pages of the black and white bedding shriveled and popped in the flames. 

This time, the busy man did not cross the street.

This time, the fear was gone from the movie star’s eyes.

This time, they slept well in their comfortable beds. 

They had figured him out and would not be duped.

But if they knew Who sent him . . . .

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Related Scriptures

• Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
  
  Hebrews 13:2.

 

• Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
  
  James 2:15-16.

 

• In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.”  “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
  
  Luke 10:30-37.

 

• “Among my people are the wicked who . . . do not defend the just cause of the poor. Should I not punish them for this?” declares the Lord. “Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?”
  
  Jeremiah 5:26-29.

 

• If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. . . . Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
  
  Deuteronomy 15:7-11.

 

• Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
  
  Luke 6:20.

 

• Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
  
  James 2:5.

 

• Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
  
  Matthew 19:21.

 

• Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
  
  Luke 14:12-14.

 

• Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.
  
  Proverbs 28:27.

 

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