"I Just Need Company For A Minute..."

I work in Downtown Tulsa. There is a spot where I go to smoke (I know, I shouldn't). There are these concrete barriers and I usually lean/sit against one and play on my phone. I see lots of homeless people. Most go on about their business, some will panhandle or ask for a cigarette. Usually though, they just go on about their way.

One day I was out there and not paying attention. I hear a man's voice say "Do you mind if I sit down?" I look up and tell him have a seat. I have been asked this before, by homeless people, even if they are just sitting somewhere nearby. This homeless man sits down right beside me! I mean RIGHT beside me. Close enough our arms are touching. My mind is racing. Do I get up, do I stay put? What do I do?

Then this man says, "I hope you don't mind my sitting here. I just need some company for a minute." Of course, now I cannot leave. I didn't sense a threat. It was a bit awkward, but not scary. After a minute or two he asks how my day is going. I tell him fine and ask about his day. He says the same. Still we both just sit there. I don't remember all he said, but just idle chit chat now and again. I am playing a game on my iphone and this man is just sitting there. Then he says "I think I am going to take a nap now." I said "ok". He got up and took just a couple of steps. Laid his backpack down for a pillow and lays down under the tree right there. He closed his eyes and went to sleep. I sat there for another minute or so and then I got up and went back to work.

All the time this is going on, my mind is spinning. What is he doing? What does he want? Well, he told me what he wanted. He just wanted company for a minute. He asked me for NOTHING more than my company for a minute. I do not think I am special. I don't know what this was about. But, as I walked away, I thought about the song "What if God was one of us?". I have never seen that man before and I haven't seen him since. We do recognize the homeless that are frequent in that part of downtown. I am not saying it was God. I am saying, I don't know. Maybe God put me in that place to share a moment with someone who needed to not be alone. Maybe it was a test.

I know as I have thought about this many times since it happened, I am glad I was there. I am glad I didn't jump up and move. So many homeless people do suffer from mental illness and alcoholism. But, besides their weaknesses they are people with hearts and feelings and sometimes just need "company for a minute".

Wow. Life is hard, but life is good. Much love.