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17th Ave SW, blessed, Calgary, Diana Schwenk, friends, grateful, Homelessness, humbled, Hump Day Chronicles, Jesus, John the Baptist, judging, sacred ground, Tomkins Park, Truth
It was the first sunny day after way-too-many days of rain in a row. I was so excited to get out there and soak in my much-needed hit of vitamin D.
After running a bunch of errands, I met up with my BFF for coffee in the park. This a favourite pastime of ours. We like to make up stories of the people we see and let me tell ya, 17th Ave is the perfect place to observe people!
So we were sitting there talking about our families and other current goings-on when out of the corner of my eye I noticed a homeless man approach us. I’d spied him with his friends earlier but they were a ways off and now he was approaching us.
I’m going to steer away from this story for a moment to say that I had spent 20 years of my life working for an organization that cares for the homeless and I’d learned a lot from them about what’s really important in this world. I’m not a stranger to the sector. I’m not afraid of people who are experiencing homelessness. And I’m not proud of the rest of this story, in fact, I’m a little ashamed because I know better.
Ok, back to my story… I just really wasn’t wanting an encounter with a homeless person at that moment. I think I mumbled something like, ‘Oh here we go’ under my breath. I was annoyed. Me and my BFF were having a good conversation. We hadn’t seen each other in a few days and I didn’t feel like getting pan-handled!
So, this man approaches us with his hand out (not to receive change, but offered as in a handshake) and I’m thinking to myself, “I am NOT shaking your hand!” He said something that I didn’t quite catch and then followed up with, “Jesus will be coming soon and He loves you and I LOVE YOU TOO!”
Ok, this is me steering away from the story again for a moment. Some of you know that I am a Christian. You may also know that I have been embarrassed about the way Christians are perceived at times so it’s not something I just come out with when I first meet someone. More on that in this post, if you’re interested
His words cut through all the crap I was thinking like a hot knife through butter. I extended my hand to him and told him Jesus and me, we both loved him too. We chatted a bit more and then he was off to the next bench to bring his message of love to someone else.
Now I know that not all my readers are Christians and that’s OK. That’s not what this story is about for me. It’s about judging people by appearance and making up my mind, before he even spoke, about how this encounter would play out.
If you are familiar with the Bible at all, you would have read about John the Baptist. John lived in the wilderness and to the casual observer he would have given the impression that he was a lunatic. In today’s world we may even say he is mentally ill. I mean seriously, he ate locusts, ranted and raved to passers-by about their hypocrisy and I’m guessing he may not have smelled so good. John however, is the man who Christians the world over recognize as the one chosen to prepare the way for Jesus.
Shame on me for judging another human being in the park before he even spoke a word. In my heart I judged him, yet in his heart he wanted only to bless me – and that he did.
Ok back to the story one last time. As he walked away I couldn’t help feeling that I was on sacred ground – that I had been reminded of an important truth. And I was grateful. I turned to look at my BFF – yanno – to share this special moment with her and was surprised to see her laughing!
“What’s so funny??”
“Didn’t you hear he what he said when he first came over?”
“No, I didn’t quite catch it, what did he say?”
“He said,” she managed to spit out in spite of her giggling fit, “He said…as he was reaching his hand out to you…It’s ‘Be Nice to Old People Day’!”
~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. ~ Hebrews 13:2
Related articles
- Not Appropriate: Homeless Jesus (simonebrosig.wordpress.com)
tersiaburger said:
This is so funny and a beautiful story!
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes I had a good chuckle too! Thank Tersia. 🙂
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Professions for PEACE said:
I love this story! Thanks for a fun and insightful post for all of us to remember to be kind. Hugs, Gina
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Gina!
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this is lemonade said:
Great story Diana! HIlarious and thought-provoking at the same time. I started writing a comment and it was at risk of running into a post in its own right lol. I could sit in the park with a coffee, people-watching and talking about all the thoughts you shared in this post. I’m guilty as charged.
Instead I’ll pin this to my Facebook wall. It’s really so worth sharing! I hope you’ll introduce me to this guy up yonder someday 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
Glad you enjoyed it! I’m really ok with post-length comments, so feel free! Thanks for sharing it on your facebook page and if you’re ever up this way, I’ll introduce you to anyone and everyone!
xo
Diana
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mrs fringe said:
❤
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joannerambling said:
Great post I love to people watch…………
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dianasschwenk said:
Me too!
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elizabeth2560 said:
I think we all have had times where we have been guilty of judging people too early. I have also been on the receiving end in a round about sort of way. In my youth, clad in jeans and T-shirt in an expensive shop browsing at coats etc and a shop attendant came up to me and said ‘there is nothing in this shop that would be of any interest to you’.
It reminds me of that scene in ‘pretty woman’; with the only problem being I did not have Richard Gere’s credit card to teach the shop attendant the finer points of life….
Anyway, the incident has stayed with me and I try not to treat people with the same disrespect.
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dianasschwenk said:
I hear you! A few years back I went into a store in a T and cutoffs and they followed me around to see if I would steal something. Within that week I went to the same store in a business suit and they were tripping over each other to help me find whatever I might need!
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elizabeth2560 said:
What a difference our appearances make!
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dianasschwenk said:
no kidding eh?
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Jennifer's Journal said:
Nice story, Diana.
Whether an individual is a Christian or not, he or she should follow the “do unto others” rule in life. I am certain I have been in similar situations before where I have prejudged by appearances. but now that I am mature (I hope!), I strive not to do that, because you never know for sure what is going on with someone or what brought them to where they are today.
And who of us knows for sure we won’t find ourselves in their shoes one day?
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dianasschwenk said:
Absolutely! And I would add who says the way I do things or think is the right way for everyone. I’m thinking specifically of an American soldier I know who went to Iraq to train locals to defend themselves and adopt ‘freedom’ This didn’t work because our definition of freedom doesn’t measure up with their culture or even fill their need in a meaningful way.
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jensine said:
As a christian I a so with you on how some Christians live the whole “be who you like as long as you are like me” too much … and yes angles come in surprising packages
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes I believe they do!
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Kristi said:
I think most of us have been in this kind of situation (I definitely have), what shows your good heart is that you noticed the judgement happening. Great story! Smiling.
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Kristi! I hope I will always notice the judgement happening if I’m the one doing the judging!
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stuffitellmysister said:
As much I as don’t want to be judged myself…I would rather like looking a bit “suspect”. 😉 Sweet and funny story. We’ve all been there. And that feeling in your heart after shows what a good heart you have. ♥
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dianasschwenk said:
haha regarding looking a bit suspect, I so agree! Thanks so much for encouragement and kind words.
xo
Diana
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stuffitellmysister said:
😉 hugs
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dianasschwenk said:
Hugs back at ya!
xo
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Ian Munro said:
The old “never judge a book by its cover” trick! I react similarly to this when approached by homeless people. The “cover” is telling me that this person is going to make me uncomfortable and try to take advantage of me. However when I actually stop and examine the “book”, my book is telling me two things about me. First that I am uncomfortable with (perhaps embarrassed) by the disparity in our financial means … do I do enough for the less fortunate? Second that I haven’t yet found the means that despite the “cover” this is an opportunity to connect with another person who truly does matter in some way to the world.
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dianasschwenk said:
Ian, thank you for your thoughtful comment. Any encounter with a person, homeless or not, would seem to open our eyes to a new perspective while teaching us something new about ourselves. I like that. Is what we learn and more importantly, how it calls us to action (or not) revealing or significant as well?
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bulldog said:
Hi Diana… now this is an article I wrote last year sometime and I link it here in case you want to go and read it…. http://www.streetarticles.com/inspirational/never-judge-a-book-by-its-cover-a-fool-you-will-be…
But I want to relate a story, once when manning Linda’s Pub/ Bar can’t remember what you call it, I had 10 odd bikers pull in and sauntered in.. my first reaction was a scruffy bunch of trouble makers, and made sure my pick handle was near at hand…they ordered in a nice enough way and seemed quite pleasant, just very dirty, long haired, unshaven and really looked as though a day in a bath with a razor would do them the world of good… however after awhile I got chatting to them as all good keeps should do.. and later found out they were Doctors and company directors etc. who had taken a week off as a group for a ride in the country… The Doctor with his long hair, dirty and the rest, I said I would never go to him for a check up… he told me they start the beards etc a few days before their ride to fit in with the rest on bikes… I found it quite funny , yet I had judged them completely incorrectly…
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes, most of us would admit that we have on occasion judged by appearance. Thank you for sharing the article and your story with me – they are great examples of this truth.
I had to chuckle at one point because I have met bikers that weren’t doctors and were awesome people too! 😉
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bulldog said:
That has been my finding as well… a lot of my friends in their old age are now buying big bikes and touring… they also begin to look a little suspect on their return… give me four wheels and I’m happy.. two is just two too little…
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dianasschwenk said:
I love when people look a little suspect LOL, then by sheer numbers I look a bit less suspect!
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bulldog said:
Looking closely at the photo of you and BFF, there is no sign of “suspect” there… just a touch of naughtiness peeking through… a twinkle in your eye as though you are wanting to get up to mischief…
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dianasschwenk said:
haha who me?
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Louise Gallagher said:
Now… I’m hoping he was telling you what day it was so you’d be nice to him… right?
Nice story Diana — good message for everyone. Christian or not.
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dianasschwenk said:
I’m glad I didn’t hear the first part haha! Thanks Louise.
xo
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