I had lundh with Ben… You know Ben don't you?

It was saturday and I was going into my favorite Record Store - 
At the door was a man of the streets named Ben.  You know Ben don't you… He is that guy that pan handles outside of the grocery store - or restaurant - or department store - until security is alerted and he is shooed away.

Ben asked me for some spare change.
That was refreshing because the last time I was asked for money on the streets, 
the man asked for a thousand dollars - you got it - a thousand bucks!
Ben just wanted some change.

I told him that I had no money on me but would buy him lunch across the parking lot at the Burger King.
"Are you hungry?" I asked.
"Sure" he said "I'll take a whopper and large coffee."

So we crossed the parking log and he hit up about 5 people in and out of the fast food restaurant for more change.  Got to give it to him, he didn't miss a chance to ask for money.

We talked - he was from Memphis - he was a Christian as was his mamma - and lived in public housing and the most he made asking people for money was twenty dollars a day.
Ben didn't talk much  and I could tell he was not comfortable sitting with me.  
He finished long before I did and said thanks and got up and left the restaurant.

It wasn't much, 
I was hungry and I could see in Ben's eyes that he was hungry.
We shared a moment in time in each of our lives and probably will never do it again.

I smiled as I finished my meal alone…
Ben had been around a while, he knew the game.
He really wanted cash - but took the food a lunch time.
We talked - about life - about God - about music. and we parted ways.

today I was able to do what I am called to do…
Reflecting the love of Christ into the hearts of men.

Take time to spend a moment with the BEN that is in your world.

Thank you for supporting TPN and giving us the financial support that allows us to take people like Ben to lunch.