Matthew 25:40

I'll start by saying that Jackson thinks it is funny how sometimes I blog about things that irritate me, sometimes I blog politically, sometimes I blog Petefish events and sometimes I blog as if this was my journal. I figure it is my blog, I'll do what I want to with it. But I will apologize for being all over the place, dear reader, and not letting you now what to expect every time you catch up on the Petefish Post.

Today, I will delivering a "sermon." I call it this because I don't know what else to call it. I know full well that I'm not a minister, pastor and even a great public speaker. I can write quite well and that's what I intend to do.

This morning Jackson and I rode into Boston from the suburbs for our job interviews. I was filling out Jackson's paperwork for him on the train (typical.) and my mind was just full of thinking about how important the next few hours were to me. I got off of the train before Jackson and said goodbye as I wished him luck. I came out of the subway thinking how I felt like a little kid playing dress up. Surely this wasn't my life. I cannot already have a Masters degree and be headed for a "big girl" job interview. But I was. My thoughts of dress up were interrupted by the sound of change jingling. I looked up to see a homeless man asking is anyone could spare some change. (Time out. I wanted to give a quick reminder of where I was: the financial district in downtown Boston. This means that everyone wizzing by in their expensive clothing all had good jobs and surely had some money to spare. Time in.) I stopped and got a $1 bill out of my wallet and put it in his cup. He gave me the biggest smile and thanked me. I wished him a good day and told him to take care. Just then a guy in suit behind me says, "you're a sucker. He doesn't need your help."

Really, sir? Really? He just wants to be out begging? He needed to be humbled? I immediately thought of the verse in the Bible where Jesus tells us that what we do to the least of these we do to Jesus. I also found this verse: One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed. Proverbs 19:17.

I wanted to tell that man what I thought of his attitude. I refrained. There was no reason to fight hate with hate. Instead I closed my mouth, smiled at him and wished him a good day, too. I hope that mean man knows that wealth is fleeting.

I also saw a man in the train station's food court digging through the trash and eating leftover food. I'm certain he just did that for fun, sir. He probably likes a trash taste on his food. Ugh.

I ate my McDonald's breakfast with a huge amount of gratitude this morning. Thankful that I had the means to eat when I was hungry and thankful that I lived in a place with food available to me whenever. I tried to find the guy that I had seen eating from the trash without luck. I wanted to buy him his very own breakfast. Maybe this job will work out and I'll have another chance. Maybe not. We'll see. I did tell myself that if the job does work out I will buy a $10 McDonald's gift-card each week and hand it out to someone that I see in need. That way no one can assume they'll buy alcohol with it and they'll be forced to eat. (I don't really doubt homeless people's intentions. I am not, however, oblivious to the fact that some have real addictions.) If I end up at another place of employment I will find a way to give back there, too. I felt very convicted this morning about doing more for others and less for me.

Ok, end of "sermon." Thanks for reading!