Not sure what to title this one...

I was working at the RiverPlex last night and this guy walked up to the desk and asked me if he could go back to see if he left something in his locker.  I said. "sure, not a problem".  He then came back up to the desk and asked me how he could go about getting a pass to work out for free one day.  I told him that he would need to talk to someone in Membership Sales.  He then asked me how he could get on a scholarship membership (a discounted membership offered by the Park District for low income families) and I told him that the Park District runs that program and gave them their number.  He then looked up at me and said, "I am not trying to unload my problems on you but I am homeless and I have not eaten anything in 2 days and I don't know where to go."  This is up at the front desk where people are walking by coming and going....and I had NO IDEA what to say to this guy.  I asked him how old he was and he said 25.  I honestly did not have a single dollar in my wallet and had no food with me.  He said that he has been digging through dumpsters for food.  I then looked over to the Membership Sales desk and saw Charles sitting there.  Charles works as a Youth Counselor for the Children's Home during the day and has lived in the area for quite some time and I knew that he might be able to help this guy out or at least point him in the right direction.  My heart literally hurt for this man.  I wanted to take him in and make him a home cooked meal and let him shower somewhere...but I didn't really think that was realistic...you never know the whole story with people.  

So - I took him over to talk with Charles and he gave him some money for food and let him know about the Southside Mission and told him where it was, gave him a phone number etc... The guy told Charles that he was from St. Louis and that his family had disowned him and that he had been in and out of mental institutions...

I don't really know what the purpose is of me writing about this but I can't stop thinking about it.  Like...where did he go last night?  Will he make it to the Southside Mission tonight?  Will he ever get his life together???  

I want to do something but I don't know what...

Sorry to be a Debbie-Downer but these are my thoughts on this rainy Thursday morning...

Oh and the real heart breaker of the story is when he was leaving the RiverPlex, we were wishing him well and telling him to be careful he said, "can you just help me with one more thing???...can you please say a prayer for me?"  W e just looked at him and said that yes, we would say a prayer.  He said, "do you want to know my name?"  Charles looked at him and said, "No, I don't need to know your name to say a prayer for you".

So...this may be the most personal post I have written so far and I am not big on praying (you might say I need to have some faith but I can't help but feeling that by me simply praying that it is going to change things - there I said it...sorry if this post is confusing and cluttered) HOWEVER....

I am going to say/write a prayer for this person because I do not feel that there is anything else that I can do... P.S. I am not really good at this....so bear with me...

Dear Lord - 

Please give this man the direction and lead him to the resources that he needs to start turning his life around.  Please help the people that he comes into contact with give him graciousness and not judgment.  I hope that this man can get out of the hole that he is in and that he can start leading a rewarding and productive life for himself.  

Thank you.