THE VOICE IN THE TREES ~ AN ENCOUNTER THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

Today I was walking the dog behind Trader Joe’s and I passed a shady alcove bordering the alley, in the center of which was a large tree. I peeked into the bushes, and saw a grocery bag. This seemed like a private place for a homeless person to rest, but just as I was thinking this, I glimpsed a pair of shoes attached to legs in camouflage pants, standing behind the tree, hiding inside the tree — as if they were hoping not to be seen, trying to blend in with the shrubs. I could hear the owner of this pair of legs trying desperately not to breathe. Was it a homeless person, or just someone who was trying to go to the bathroom in the bushes?

As I passed by, I said to the bush: “God Bless you.” I kept walking. Then I realized that I was holding in my hand two sticks of Mozarella string cheese, so I circled back to the bush and offered it to the person hiding in the trees. “Would you like a piece of cheese? It’s wrapped in plastic, it has its own wrapper," I said. A woman’s voice, shaking, rang out, “No, no thank you.” Then, the voice said: “You're very sweet.” I could see a pair of glasses and dark hair through the leaves.

I walked away and said, “You are sweet too.”

Then I started crying; I couldn't stop. The same way I cried on Sunday when they talked to us about the homeless and how it can happen to anyone, and how there are over 23, 000 homeless women and children in Los Angeles County alone.  Can you imagine what it’s like to have no place to rest, no privacy in going to the bathroom or shower ... no clean, safe, or soft place to lay one’s head. No place without bugs or flies, mosquitos or rats… no place to get dressed, to bathe, or to bring friends home for ice cream. No place to do homework. No place to have dinner or play Monopoly or take piano lessons. No dinner. God bless these poor lost little souls.

You can help by donating here: downtownwomenscenter.org or  myfriendsplace.org.

In light of Christmas it is a good idea to understand what the Prince of Peace stood for. He commanded us "to love your neighbor as yourself, to take care of the poor, to give your cloak to someone if he asks you — in Christ's words to take care of "the least among us" - the poor, the weak, frail, helpless, handicapped and those who seem different, the "outcasts."  I don't always succeed but I try to bless my enemies and love those who persecute me.

If we would all follow the law of love, the Golden Rule we'd have very few problems in the world.

Maybe some Christians don't realize that Christ is the root of the word Christianity because the vowel sounds are different. 

I believe in the actual healing power of the Truth, and have had many tangible healing 'miracles'. But according to quantum physics, miracles are just natural laws. 

Please donate to one of your favorite charities that benefit the poor.  Not only are there over 15,000 homeless children in Los Angeles, but many senior citizens across our rich nation don't have enough to pay their electric bills and have no heat. 

My favorite charities are Feed the Children, Imagine L.A., Union Rescue Mission and Candy Christmas' "Under the Bridge Mission" in Nashville, which you can read about in recent threads.