"I took a slug to the gut and here i am to tell about it."~homeless

Today, I had the opportunity to meet Nelson.  He is homeless by choice because he likes to travel.  He left home when he was 12 years old and has been on the road since.  I would guess him early thirties, but it is tough to judge a homeless person's age.  Their skin is a little rough for the added wear.

Nelson has a two month old pup with a good bark, he picked up for his girl friend who is in the hospital.  She didn't make it very well through the last cold snap.  He is hanging around until she gets out and then they head for Tucson.   He has been there before and made out ok there.

Nelson has a great mountain climbing backpack someone gave to him and a warm bedroll.  He is set up pretty good.  He was reading a ragged out stephen king novel.  I chatted with him about how many times he has been tossed in jail for begging.  He has only been tossed in jail once in San Antonio.  He had accrued 7 tickets and the police officer thought it time to go before the judge.  He spent the day waiting for the judge.  The judge dismissed the tickets and went about his way.  

Unfortunately, all his stuff had been left behind by the police officer, so the real penalty was losing the few possessions he had.  Someone had stolen his stuff by the time he got back.  Of course he came out the winner with help from the guy that fixed him up with the mountain pack.  Pretty cool the way it worked out.

I gave Nelson a Bible with P.90 marked up.  "For God so loved the world.....".  He had gone to church as a kid.  He didn't have a Bible and was glad to get this one.  I drove around the block and saw he had put his Steven King novel down and was reading the Bible instead.   Cool huh?!  

I asked if he had ever seen God do anything, he said yes, many times.   I said, "How so?"  He said he was shot in the gut and the bullet was still lodged up next to his spine.  The doc said he wouldn't walk again, but here he is.  Hauling around a 50 pound pack.  He figures it must have God that saved his life and healed his body.  I agreed. 

We chatted about John 3:16 and what God did for us.  I left and headed back to work...I enjoy chatting with the homeless.  They have a unique perspective on life.  
 
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