A Divine Appointment

 

A few years ago I came out of a Tim Horton's in Burlington and a street person asked me for money. I looked into his eyes and gave him some money, and asked if I could buy him some breakfast.

He declined.

Then he looked at me and smiled. He said, "I know you. You are Deborah Brown." I was quite surprised because I didn't recognize him. He said he remembered me and my husband from a certain church we were members of during the 80's.

He eventually told me who he was and I remembered him in his former days...a young professional, newly married, with a child on the way.

This man looked nothing like his former self.

As I conversed with him I realized mental illness had taken its toll and he now lived on the streets in Burington and the surrounding towns and cities.

He was estranged from his former wife, and his children. 

I told him where we lived and told him if he ever needed something, to please come. He told me he wasn't allowed to do that.

As I left, I felt odd.

Yet I also felt I had encountered a divine appointment.

I'll never forget that morning when I became reacquainted with and old acquaintance, and a new burden.