Maccas

Maccas? That's the Aussie word for McDonalds :) We like to shorten everything in Australia. And I know, someone it going to stumble upon my blog and say, "Wait a sec. Is he Australian?" I realize that. But yes, I was born in OZ. And I have dual citizenship. SO! The point of this blog is to let you all know of my new found relationship with Maccas. I have spent quite a bit of money at Maccas in the past few days and also spent a considerable amount of time in the Maccas on the corner of Adams and Wells st in Chicago, waiting for a bus. The last time I was in Chicago, on the 19th of June, I sat 3 feet from this very spot for a few hours, doing the same thing. Cept that time, I was writing in my Journal about my encounters with the poor of Chicago. And now, I will fill you in on those happenstances.

When I got off the bus at around 6:30 ish, I think, on June 19th, I began to stretch my legs and look around. I had only been to Chicago a handful times before, once by train for family vacation, twice to spend the night on a mission trip by people mover, and twice to catch a plane to the Dominican Republic. But I had only really walked around while on vacation with my fam. And that time we were in a different part of Chicago. All that to say, a few days ago was my first real, solo experience with Chicago. So I got off the bus and started looking around and who should come up but an African American woman asking for money to get bus tickets to a shelter for the night for her and her children (who were not with her at the time). I was willing to listen to story, mostly because I just saw someone shoot her down and I was pretty vulnerable, having just got off a 9 hour bus ride. So I listened to her story, the bus cost 2.20 per person per ride and she had two children and they needed to get to a shelter for the night. I asked her where her kids were and she pointed over her shoulder and said back that way. A little sketchy, I know. But I was filled with compassion, like it says sometimes that Jesus was? Your head knows that she might be lying, but your heart hears a crying soul asking for help. So I said "so you need about 7 dollars yeah? Ive got a five if that will help" she says " not that won't pay for it all" and this may have been my naivety or just my compassion but I ended up giving her ten bucks. She said "God bless you" and hurried off. I was left with conflicted emotions. Had I just saved a family from a night on the streets? Had I just payed an overdue bill? Had I just supported an illegal drug habit? Had I just "purchased" a bottle of liquor? All I knew was that I had done what Jesus would have done. "Ask and it shall be given unto you" The lady asked and I, as Jesus's hands and feet, gave. But who knows??? Maybe I was wrong. I tried not to overthink it as it was already done. But a few minutes passed as I looked over my Chicago map and another African American, this time a man, approached me and asked if I knew where I was going. I said I would like to see the Sears Tower and that I had lots of time to kill, so any thing of interest that was within walking distance. He said he was going that direction anyway so he would take me there. It was only a few blocks away. As we walked, somehow God was brought up and he said he was a Christian and I said I was too. He told me of his mothers recent, the day before, passing and I was sympathetic. I told him of my journey to AR and he said Little Rock was a friendly town. Then he tells me of his need to visit his sister and the 15 dollar bus ticket he needs to buy. He wasn't pushy about it at all, just mentioned it a few times as we looked up at the Sears Tower. I took the opportunity to tell him how poor I was, with all my money intended for food on my journey. He said any little bit would help, he already had 6 dollars. So I gave him 5 bucks. He was so grateful. We exchanged names, handshakes, and blessings. He showed me the general direction of a city park where I could hang out. Then we parted ways. Again, I was torn between my philanthropist tendencies and my poor college student status. Could I afford to be Jesus' hands and feet? idk, but my whole life I've been rather on the lower end of the wealth scale and money has always come when I needed it. So I trust that God will supply my need.
So, I know starting a sentence with so is bad grammar and this blog has become quite long. But what is the ideal Blog length? Feedback would be nice :) Anyway, I want to challenge you all with something. When you get the feeling that someone really needs your help and you have ANY extra money, give it away. Just try releasing financial control of your life to Jesus. He is the ultimate banker after all and He will not let you go hungry. No matter how much money you have, if He clothes the lilies of the field in such splendor, will He not take care of you? TTFN blog followers, talk to you soon