A DOLLAR RICHER

I just got back from my morning walk. You see, I am trying to live IN each and every day. So, rather than making excuses, I go for a brisk walk and am always glad I did.

This morning was no different...well, actually it was QUITE different! I mean I was glad I went for the walk, but it was the route that was different. Along that route, God turned one dollar into $10! He also turned my last ten dollars into $1.00.  Miraculous?  I don't really know...YOU be the judge....

I try to travel light, but need my keys & phone, so I have pockets. I was going to drop by the post office to buy stamps and mail a letter, so I took my last $10 bill. I also tucked my debit card into my bra just in case I wanted to pay for the stamps with that and use my last ten dollars to buy my FAVORITE Starbuck's Javachip Frappuccino...just in case...ya never know when that Javachip need will strike and one needs to be ready. But I digress.  At the last second, I shoved a dollar bill that I had into my pocket generously thinking that I would give it to some poor, homeless person - as we have A LOT of them here in Ocean Beach.

So, I briskly walked to the post office on Santa Monica - only a few blocks away. While in line at the post office, I discreetly pulled the debit card out of my bra...feeling that javachip craving beginning...and paid for my stamps with the card, with caffeine and chocolate anticipation on my mind.

Now, if I routed it right, I could have my brisk walk and three blocks away from home, be joyously sipping on my cold Starbuck's Javachip Frappuccino...mmmm....I could almost taste it. In fact, I think it made me walk more vigorously!

I decided to walk all the way down Sunset Cliffs and see where it took me, figuring it ended at the ocean and it did. I had never been down that far yet. It was beautiful. I passed vacationers staying at the Sunset Cliffs Inn and locals out walking their dogs, even a couple having a very serious "discussion" while walking.

On the way back I saw her in the distance. She was what I call, in my mind, one of the "dark people." Black from dirt, carrying a few small bags, very ripped clothing and disconnected from everything around her. She was walking in my direction and I in hers. I passed her, expecting her to ask for money but she just walked on and stared at the ground. I WANTED her to beg for money....then I could magnanimously give her the dollar that I had for her.

So I passed her...and she passed me.... 

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress....."

I passed her...and she passed me....I didn't give her my dollar....she didn't ask for it. I walked on. Wondering why I didn't give her my dollar.

And then God spoke to me..."Turn around and go back."

"Really?!" I argued, "But what if this isn't YOU,  Lord, but just me?"

"But what if it IS me?" he answered. "Besides, if it isn't me, what harm is there in giving?"

"Good point."

So, I headed back. I saw her about a block ahead of me and I lazily prayed that if this was right that she just stop... Instead she turned into an alley. (So much for my magic genie prayer...)  And God told me to give her my $10 bill! My LAST ten dollars! Does he know what he is asking? Crud, now - no Starbuck's Javachip Frappuccino. I trudged on and I found myself hoping that I couldn't find her.

As I rounded the alley, she was down to the first set of trash cans. As I approached her I said, "Good Morning!"

She said with a toothless smile and rather defensively while looking in a trash can, "I am getting my cigarettes. They threw them in there because they don't like me smoking."

Hardly knowing what to say, I looked into her eyes and held out the $10 bill and said, "I feel that I am supposed to give this to you."

"They don't like me smoking." "Thank you."

"God bless you." (I meant it as a prayer rather than to fill the air with something spiritual.)

"Thank you" she said again, as I stared at the few smiling, rotten teeth she had left.

And I turned and left, feeling profoundly humbled by this seemingly small encounter and wondering whether I will ever see her again.

I walked home with a dollar in my pocket that started out as a $10 bill. And my new friend continued down the alley with a $10 bill that God had changed from a one dollar bill.

The money won't buy much for this woman. But maybe she felt loved by God for just a moment. And through my encounter I will pray for her.

I recently watched a riveting documentary called, "The Human Experience" (watched it on Netflix) where several guys experienced many different things around the world in their search for the meaning of life and filmed it. One of the things they did was to experience homelessness on the streets of New York City. Of course, it's not exactly the same, but they got some interesting perspectives. One homeless woman that they interview had this to say:

"When this first happened to me there were 4 dogs on the street…a dog…and everyone was on their cell phone going, "I'll take this dog and we'll take this dog and they all helped the dogs…they all helped the dogs….they took the dogs home so they wouldn't freeze to death and they let me stand there..."

Quoting from one of my favorite books:

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
   “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

    “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

I have a dollar, if anyone wants it. God gave it to me.