ants on a log

today i met a man named rob.  he told me i would make millions if i went into business selling thinned out peanut butter and raisins in a jar (ants minus the log) because it is the ultimate sensation in  your mouth.  then i could give 32 percent of my millions away to a non profit.

back up.  this morning i went to church to do the announcements.  the set-up team was moving ez-ups around so i took eli to the nursery and jumped in to help.  a man i didn’t recognize (which isn’t all that obscure.. i still feel new(er) to our church) asked me if i knew where the bucket went because he wasn’t done washing down the tables.  i introduced myself and then helped him find the bucket.  how great! we’re adding new volunteers to our morning crew- always needed!

fast-forward.  in between services i found rob hanging out in front of the kitchen.  he very pointedly wanted to know how i could get him two eggs.  he said he was a very good cook and if i would just give him two eggs he would be able to eat (which he hadn’t done in the last two days).  my heart sank.  he’s not exactly a new set up recruit.  he’s hungry… and in all twenty-five years of my life, i have no idea what it is like to not have access to food.  we proceeded to have a conversation about his time spent sleeping on bus benches, his time in vietnam, his divorce from his wife nearly a decade ago, and his intensity for eggs.  well, i had no eggs… so i offered him doughnuts from the refreshment table and i knew we had a pantry on campus so i went in search of food.  of course, the majority of the food was canned- and exactly how was he going to eat green beans without a can opener?  luckily, i found raisins and a jar of peanut butter in a bag of food on the receptionist’s desk (i just realized this might have been for some other group… whoops, sorry vbs!)  I bagged some food for the road, along with the raisins and pb, and headed in search of rob.

i found him in the back of the youth building, just as he interrupted our youth pastor’s teaching to about 40 students.  he wanted to know if it was alright if he accessed his meds in the back and then left his bag behind the counter.  everyone looked really confused.  as i helped rob find a better place for his bag and we went outside, he eagerly dug into the peanut butter (and tossed in the box of raisins… hence his previously mentioned business venture).  through the next few minutes, i realized rob was a little more than just scattered, had a variety of emotions that were being exposed, and he was taking more than a half a dozen prescription drugs.  i was unsure of his history- he had no license because his wallet and cell phone had recently been stolen, he had no where to stay, and i felt guilty that i began to question his story.

in my head.. “the least of the these… whatever you did for the least of these…you did for me… what is that verse?” (matthew 25:40)

i kept remembering how i have been asking god for an opportunity to love more.  here you go, jenna… i brought him straight to you… doesn’t get easier than this.  so while he dipped his forefinger into the peanut butter (the guy was obviously hungry and not just looking for money), i began to call the local police departments, fountain valley, huntington beach, santa ana…. then was finally given a 24-hour hotline number (211).  they give you information on county services, clinics, emergency services, etc.  it turns out, finding a warm place to sleep for a single male in orange county wasn’t so easy (many shelters save spots for women and children). after talking with rob about his intense dislike for the shelter in santa ana that was recommended for him (“it’s basically a jail… you couldn’t pay me to return”), he told me he stayed at a shelter in bloomington the previous week (a good 30-45 minutes away).  i can’t quite see caesar allowing me to drive my new friend to bloomington… so, instead we figured out the appropriate bus route and scrounged up enough money for the fare and lunch.  i invited him to the service and told him he would always be welcome to attend and if there were more ways we might be able to help in the future, for him not to hesitate to ask.

i looked back as i headed into the sanctuary to pray with our worship team before the service and saw rob headed off our campus.  although sad he wasn’t planning on staying, i said a quick prayer for his safety and god’s plan in his life.  i kept thinking.. i didn’t do it right.  that wasn’t it.  he’s alone and sleeps outside.  i should’ve done more.  uhhhhh… sorry god… i promise i’ll do it better next time.  we prayed and the worship team began to sing “here is our king”.

suddenly, a man is standing in front of me with a big bouquet of flowers.  ”i’ve spoken with all of my fountain valley police friends and they said that as long as they are hanging over the wall, you can pick them.  thank you for your help. god bless you.”  i was stunned.  rob had picked twenty different flowers and greenery and put them together with wet paper cloths from the restroom.  i gave him a big hug.  he walked to the back of the church, stayed for about half the service, and headed out.

i’m still hoping it was enough, and i’m not sure how i ended up with a bouquet of flowers at the end of the day, but i’m starting to hear the still small voice more frequently… and it’s going to open a world of opportunity. phil 4:9

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~ by jennaruiz on May 17, 2010.