My friend, Donald (Part 1)

Every once in a while we have different people come into the church looking for financial help. Usually they are people who are between paychecks or temporarily unemployed, but occasionally they will be a homeless person looking for money for a meal or shower. About three months ago (near the beginning of June) a rather scruffy looking elderly man came in the office asking for money to purchase some used clothes and get a shower at the local YMCA. Since I was the only Pastor in the office that day his case fell to me. I told him that I would be glad to drive him down to the Salvation Army Thrift Store to help him purchase some "new" clothes before dropping him off at the YMCA for his shower (they happen to be right next door to each other). Of course he readily accepted my offer and told me his name was Donald. It took me all of forty-five minutes to help Donald purchase his clothes and drop him off at the YMCA. He kindly thanked me for my assistance and, as I watched him walk away, I assumed it was probably the last time I would ever see Donald again. Little did I know that he and I would get to know each other much better and spend a lot more time together too.