Except I never really had power to give away. What about we Christians who already are almost on the margins. What are we supposed to do?
Tonight, on my way to a church event across town, I stopped at Tim's, and was talking to a young homeless guy outside. Nicest guy. I didn't ask what he'd done - he asked about my leg, and told me he has epilepsy and is scared of breaking bones if he falls. He told me he had been in and out of city jail over the weekend and the cops were keeping his seizure medication in the personal belongings lockup until Monday, when somebody's there to open the locker. I didn't ask what he'd done. Maybe it was for panhandling. This city is uptight about street folks! Could've been for a minor disturbance. He seemed very friendly to me. Anyway...He couldn't get a refill for free because med refills are not covered until the last ones run out, and an emergency couple of doses is half the cost of a refill, because of the dispensing fee, and he didn't have it. He had a cough - said he's coughing up green stuff - he thought was an infection that needed antibiotics, pneumonia maybe. He said he went to the hospital last week and they told him it didn't need treatment. I was trying to think of how to help - I'm only ever a few weeks away from where he's at really - I may not look like it but I am. I learned that in Vancouver. Anyway, I suggested he go back to the hospital, and tell them his cough isn't getting better and needs to be treated, and while he's at it, ask if he can have his epilepsy meds at the hospital. I don't know whether he'll try that or not.
When I left I thought that I should've asked him to come and listen to Shane Claiborne. I missed the chance. Thought of it later. I always seem to think of good ideas in hindsight that might've helped. There might've been a lot of people motivated to help him out, with what I can't do. I blew it. What can I do, as a good Christian witness, with not much to give?
