I see people that other people don’t see.
Seriously, I do.
No, not like that movie, when that kid’s breath would fog up and he would see dead people, nothing that dramatic.
But just for the record, I really like Bruce Willis.
And not like some Madame Cleo impersonator either.
But, in case you were wondering, I do a very decent imitation of her nonetheless.
The people I see, I think are invisible to the naked eye.
In other words I can see them but you can’t. Ghosts?
No, they aren’t ghosts; at least I don’t think so.
Some may be Ghosts of what they once were. Am I confusing you?
Well, it’s just like the other morning.
I thought I saw something standing out of the wind at the front of an old downtown shop. It was around 7:30 on Saturday morning.
Was it ever cold and there was a moment there I really felt like the wind was going to cut me in half.
As I leaned into the wind and walked up to the storefront I passed a man and a woman that never saw it.
Seriously, that never saw it.
Looked right at “It.” But never saw it.
That is how I figured out that some of these people are invisible.
Because, other people look “right” at them and they don’t seem to really SEE them. You know what I mean?
I am not very good at guessing ages. Never have been.
If I had that particular job at the carnival, I would starve to death.
I say that because as I approached the figure in the storefront, I couldn’t tell how old she was.
But if I had to guess, I would say that she was closer to seventy that she was sixty.
She was shivering and her body was shaking. I asked her if she had gloves.
She nodded her head in an affirmative manner.
I asked her if I could get her anything.
She moved her head from side to side slowly that indicated a negative response to my question.
So I asked her, if I could get her a hot cup of coffee.
A smile broke from under her scarf and a soft voice said, “Yes, please.”
I told her that I would be right back, and I sprinted the 40 or fifty yards to the Seven-Eleven Store and purchased a large hot coffee and then walked quickly back to where she was standing in the storefront. She took it from my hands and I watched her soak up the warmth of the coffee in the Styrofoam cup, holding it close to her face.
Before I could ask her if she needed anything else, she smiled and that same soft voice said, “Thank You”. We exchanged a smile and I was on my way.
I didn’t know who she was.
But I know that she is a human being.
With the same organs you and I have.
She has eyes, feelings, memories and dreams.
She is no different than the guy I talked to an hour later inside the chain link fence, where the dumpster’s are located behind the convenience store near the bridge.
I gave him one of my old sleeping bags, and a wool sweater.
I bought him a cup of coffee and I listened to him talk as we sit in that cold and windy place.
He has feelings. He has memories and dreams. He is not what he once was. A
s a kid it never occurred to him that he would be where he is now.
They are not invisible. Are they? We see them you and I.
They are our brothers and our sisters.
They are our fellow citizens.
Please see them this Holiday Season.
Please think of them. Please pray for them.
Please give them that touch, and let them know that you care.
Merry Christmas
RTR
MEB