I asked him about his family and he shared that he has family in North West Territories, brothers and sisters and a mom. He told me that his mom thought he was doing well in Vancouver and that he did not want her to know that he was living on the streets and pan handling. He said it would be too hard for his mother to handle.
I asked him if he had any kind of spiritual background, or church background. He said that when he was younger he used to skip school so he could go to church. He said that he enjoyed doing that but he no longer has any interest in that.
We continued to talk for a number of minutes. One of the things he said really saddened me. He shared that he feels all alone and that it is just him in this world. He has to try to figure out how to make it through this life all alone. He does not keep in touch with anyone and feels like he has to figure out everything all by himself.
The truth is that from a physical standpoint he is very much alone. I know that the only other people he talks to are other people living on the streets. I am hoping that he will be able to connect with others in the city that can really help him, really give him good advice. It must be so overwhelming.
I did have the privilege of praying for him and he thanked me for doing that. As I was leaving he said to me, "Have a good day or do something good for someone today". He said he learned that as a young boy from his mother. I turned around and shared the same message with him.
I am learning so much from those I talk to on the streets, there are some common denominators amongst them:
- they are wonderful and kind
- they are lonely
- they have had some kind of spiritual exposure
- they need help
- they are suffering from broken relationships with their families
- we need to invest in them
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