This is an account of a recent happening which I find may be useful to read...
I sat in a diner off of 90th and 2nd Avenue waiting for a friend's date with her fella to end. I had been there for about two hours, my food had long been eaten and my coffee gone cold.
I read my Bible nearly the entire time that I was there.
Somehow, though I was only one person, the employees at the diner seemed annoyed at my presence taking up a table after I had finished my "business". I developed a stomach ache, a headache, and I had gotten quite tired due to being awake for some odd nineteen hours straight.
Despite the wonderful time I had spent in the Word and all the splendid things that I got out of it, I found myself aggravated. I was annoyed at being stuck in this diner, annoyed with my body feeling like crap, almost wishing I had not come into the city to begin with; knowing that I would likely end up stranded and waiting far longer than I would ideally like.
Somewhere around or just before 2am I decided to release the table at which I had set up residence and just walk uptown for a while until I maybe, hopefully reached my friend. I walked about two blocks uptown when I came to a 24 hour laundry mat which I seriously considered sitting in to wait out the rest of the night. For some reason I just kept walking...
Another two blocks uptown I came across a man whose name I found to be Slim. He was holding a cup out for money and greeted me kindly, then asked for some help. The first thing I said was, "Sorry" as I began to walk by him, genuinely sorry that I could not help him because I typically have a strong policy about not giving money to the homeless.
He persisted, fortunately and asked me to buy him some food.
I said "Okay, where from"?
There was a pizza joint literally ten feet away from where I stood so I suggested that we go in there. The place is called Rays, somewhere around 94th and 2nd Avenue.
I told him to come and we would get some food for him and his wife.
He told me that he could not go into Ray's.
I asked him why that was.
He told me that they would not let him in because he is homeless.
That aggravated me.
He then told me that his wife could go in, so I took her in to order some food.
At first Slim wanted pizza, then he wanted a burger, so we ordered two deluxe burgers, Slim's without lettuce and tomato. Vicki, Slim's gal walks in with me slowly; the gentlemen behind the counter were very friendly and greeted me with smiles and asked what I wanted.
I motion toward Vicki and tell them whatever she wants.
Vicki proceeds to order the food and pick out two drinks one for Slim and one for herself. The gentleman behind the counter said we could sit down to wait for the food, so Vicki walked over to a table by the wall and sat down. I walked over to her and asked if there was anything about which I could pray for her and Slim. She asked that I pray for housing for them, as they are waiting to hear back about some housing applications they have submitted. I asked if she was okay if I prayed with her right then and she said that would be fine, so I sat down and proceeded to pray.
I prayed that God would come through on their behalf and that they would see his care for them, even more so than the birds or the flowers. I asked for God to move in them and on their behalf and then the prayer ended. At that point I was going to leave her. But as I began to say my goodbyes, my goodbye turned into questions.
Do you have family?
How do you do out here?
Where do you stay?
What options do you have?
I found out that Vicki and Slim met two years ago on 96th street near the subway on one of the avenues. She was sitting outside and he walked by and they have been together ever since.
I found out that they have been homeless for nine months.
Vicki has three daughters, Slim has no children.
Vicki's daughters are 18, 22, and 32. The youngest two are at Michigan State together and the oldest is just living her life.
Vicki has no family left apart from her daughters.
Her brother provided the funds for the girls to go to college before he died.
She and Slim try and stay in a hotel on 135th and 8th Avenue.
They spend a lot of their time on the street around 92nd and 2nd Avenue.
They have been in and out of shelters but the shelters are rough and people steal, so the streets are almost safer and better.
I learned that people are pretty good to them, as Vicki said that they do alright in terms of getting food and a room to sleep in some nights.
As I talked to Vicki and asked her questions, she shared, she cried, she smiled and even laughed, especially when she told me about how she met her fella.
She told me they were trying to get the last bit of money they need to get a room for the night. They needed $12. I felt like I should give her the rest of the money they needed. She was so touched and so grateful.
The whole time all I could think about was how blessed I was by meeting her. How honored I was to be able to sit with her and hold her hand and talk to her.
I started out so aggravated and God just turned the whole situation around. He humbled me and He worked through me.
I was able to tell Vicki about 10,000 PB&J's and hopefully they will be able to benefit from that program. I invited her to church and told her that it would be wonderful to see her there. I do hope to.
God has blessed me immensely, far beyond what I deserve. And I am far too often blind to the homeless and needy around New York City. It is easier to turn a blind eye. I am glad that in the middle of the night, in Harlem, the Lord would not let me turn a blind eye. He would not let me stay in my aggravated mess. I am glad, honored, blessed, and most of all humbled by the experience I had meeting Vicki and Slim.
We eventually got their food, shared a hug, and they walked away. I know where to find them if I need to. And I hope to see them again, perhaps in church. I am fully confident that God will provide for them and I believe that Vicki truly received that.
So... that's the story.
If you think to do it, please lift Vicki and Slim up in prayer. How amazing would it be to have an army of believers praying for these two?! Watch God move...
