When I do outreach for Operation Nightwatch, I pass out water, socks, and snacks. Every month I receive a donation of two cases of Fiji water. The bottles are too big for me to carry on the street, so I usually put them in the trunk of my car and give them to a group of people in an encampment or RV. Last week it was in the mid-eighties, and I knew the bulky cases of fancy water would be a blessing. Sally, who lives in an RV with her boyfriend, asked if we had any more water. I told her that I had some in my car and that I would be back in a few minutes. She looked at her feet and thanked me. People say all kinds of things to homeless people and make all kinds of empty promises. “I will get you into housing if you agree to drug and alcohol treatment even though you have been clean and sober for ten years.” “Jesus will heal you if you participate in our “faith based” recovery program. It’s not rooted or grounded in science or medically assisted treatment, but we will pray for you and hope you don’t die when you go through withdrawals.” My motto is to under promise and over deliver. It turns out that twelve huge bottles of water can change your outlook and lift your spirit!

I returned with the box of water and Sally was surprised to see me. People say all kinds of things and make all kinds of empty promises to homeless people. I went through my corny dad routine, explaining how someone donates them and that my daughter likes to drink water out of a giant jar with a straw. Sally smiled and came out of her RV. She locked the door and sat down on the sidewalk. Her pants were unzipped because they were too small. In my effort to be observant, I didn’t want her to think that I was looking at her broken zipper. I think she perceived me as kind and not creepy. Sally took a deep breath, sighed, and asked if she could ask me a question. “I have been dealing with the same issues with the same people for forty years. I need the balance between good and evil to be corrected. Right now, the scale has tipped way over to the evil side. Can you ask people to do random acts of kindness for each other? Kindness is what we all need. Kindness can conquer evil.” I listen, agree, and promise to let people know about her request. I affirm her in her wisdom and for the millionth time, find myself in the presence of the living God on the street. I tell Sally about Galatians 5 and that kindness is the fruit of the Spirit the church seems to never take seriously. I offer to pray for her, and she is surprised again, “That would be amazing.” We bow our heads, and if I am honest, I pray the prayer to end all prayers! When were done, Sally smiles, looks me in the eye, and says, “Thanks that was really special.” She asks for my card, and I tell her to call anytime. I happen to have a ten-dollar Starbucks gift card that I give her as well. “Thanks, I was hoping to get coffee today!”

“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things (Galatians 5:22-23).”

Michael Cox