I wanted to share a story with you guys. My friend Clarence Chiu experienced this! Please read on. =)
a homeless man kissed me.. (this one is true)
Friday, May 11, 2007
It was a typical day over at the BCD Tofu house in Koreatown in Los Angeles. I had taken the drive up to Los Angeles to meet up with Rob and Trinity who were on the west coast for a quick vacation. We had a good dinner and were wrapping it up (getting ready to meet up with Meng Ning over at Ice Kiss) around 9:00pm when Joe entered into the restaurant. I didn't notice him at first, but after a little bit it was impossible not to notice him. Joe is about 6ft tall, medium frame, bearded, black, and homeless. In tears he had wandered into the restaurant and planted himself almost in the middle of the room. Waiters and waitresses tried to ask him to move but were too afraid to physically get close to him. It was there that he made his tearful plea to the patrons at the restaurant.
"I'm not an addict. I don't want to go to jail. I'm not well. I have a prescription that I need to fill (he then proceeds to take it out). It's for lithium... (i dont remember). Please, I need help. I'm not going to hurt anybody. I'm not dangerous, please, I need help. The prescription is only 16 dollars to fill. Look at it. I need help. I don't want to go to jail. I get on my knees in front of you, please, I need help, I beg you."
This was taking place right behind me (my back was to Joe) and of course conversation sprung up at our table. Rob recognized the medication as one given to alleviate people who were bi-polar (which helped explain his hysterical crying). And we started thinking what we should/could do. Rob had 7 dollars, but that wasn't enough, but we just decided to help.
Walking over to him, as he was in tears and a security guard had now come in to help remove him. I tapped him on the shoulder and told him that we would help him out if he came with us. He agreed and we left the restaurant, followed by the security guard. Rob and Trinity gave him some food and the seven dollars and then I walked with Joe across the street to the ATM machine so I could get him a twenty so he could get his prescription. While leaving the restaurant parking lot another young korean guy ran up and with a heavy accent gave him to bucks and said "here, two bucks" and then ran off. A simple and kind gesture. While Joe and I were walking I won't lie, I was a bit wary. As we were walking, Joe was still hysterically crying and still trying to constantly assure me that he wasn't dangerous, and that he was telling the truth. It was pretty clear to me that more than money he wanted someone to affirm that he was a truthful person that had integrity.
We walked across the street to the ATM where I got the money and then we just sat down and talked. He actually wouldn't take my money but just asked me to sit down with him. And so we sat, and basically he just grieved and lamented to/with me.
"Why are people so mean? My skin says nothing of my honesty, my clothes say nothing of my integrity... Do you know that if the cops came, they wouldn't help me, you know why? Because I'm messing with the "beautiful" people..."
He shared with me how, in his search for help had gone from store to store asking for help (let me remind you this is a black homeless guy in K-town), only to get physically thrown out, spit at, and called a n*****. It was with fear that he went into the restaurant, but he was adamant. He told me that his belief was that if he went in, and humbled himself before fellow human beings, that someone would help him. That if he kept on trying to be truthful, that God would answer him. From there we spent a while (sorry for making you wait Meng Ning!) just talking. He shared Jesus teachings with me, I shared some with him. He talked of Confucious and Martin Luther King Jr. I listened. At some point the tears stopped flowing uncontrollably, his eyes started focusing a bit clearer, and he told me.
"you know, more than money, I just wanted someone to believe me, and to tell me that God loves me."
At which I told him that I did, and that God does. Getting ready to part ways we stood up and he gave me a long hug, and then he kissed me on the cheek. Knowing that we won't see each other again, he told me "I'll see you on the other side."
I told him. "I'm looking forward to it."
Thanks for your story Clarence! Let's be challenged to always keep the poor, the oppressed, the orphans, and the widows in mind. God commands us to!
Have a nice day guys! | 
