Disheveled appearances (countenance and clothes) aside, the smiles are genuine, the words of thanks are sincere and the occasional “God bless you” is heartfelt. 

These expressions of gratitude have special meaning because they come from people whose lives are so different compared to those who serve them. They are the homeless who wander the streets of downtown Saint Paul. We come from Roseville, Resurrection and St. Michael’s Lutheran churches once a month offering brats and cheesy potatoes, veggies, fruit and homemade cookies. 

Their lives are in so many ways foreign to us: some carry their few possessions in backpacks and damaged duffle bags. The ‘hoarders’ use shopping carts. (I think of all the ‘stuff I have crammed into our garage and basement and realize my shopping carts would form an impossible-to-move caravan.) They shuffle from place to place seeking shelter while we, for the most part, are comfortably rooted in secure homes. 

Like we, they find meaning in friendships, share laughter, tears, stories, and fragile hopes with others. Some of them place faith in the God they learned about in Sunday schools and worshipped in places of worship, though life and experience have tempered and challenged those beliefs. 

Though our circumstances are profoundly different our similarities are profoundly the same. Together we find comfort, and even joy, in our monthly meeting; it is a privilege to be in each other’s company.

– Craig Richter