His Name is Will

Today I found myself at Starbucks to take some time to study and pray. I sat in the corner listening to Pandora and enjoying my morning coffee. The cold gray wind whipped through the door as I sat in the corner leather chair, my feet were cold.

A man walked in, he had kind, sad eyes and asked if he could sit in the leather chair next to me. He did not make eye contact with me, and he asked for nothing. I noticed that his hands were shaking and his pants were filthy. I realized, this man is homeless. He is just trying to warm up. So I took out my headphones and asked him his name and if I could buy him a cup of coffee. He looked surprised but said yes. I walked away from all my stuff and purposefully did not look back to see if he was going to run away with my computer and everything in my backpack.

His name is Will and he thanked me. We talked for a few minutes about his life and why he chooses to stay homeless. I was curious, so I think I was asking questions with sincerity, not judgement, and he answered the questions openly. I think he knew I just wanted him to feel warm so he opened up more and told me why he chose not to stay at the mission, even though he was sleeping out in the elements, it snowed all day yesterday.

I had been sitting there for a while and needed to use the restroom. Will had left to go back outside to try and get some money by holding a sign. "Can you help? God Bless" is what his sign read. As I was about to get up, Will came back in. He smiled at me and sat back down in the leather chair. I had placed a gift card in my journal to hold my place and set my journal on my Bible. Again, I left all of my things next to the chair trusting that my things would be safe.

As I came back out from the restroom everything seemed to be in place. Will sat quietly, staring out the window and my journal and Bible sat quietly as well awaiting my return. As I opened my journal I noticed that my gift card was gone. Will stood up and walked out the door. My heart began to sink. I chose to trust this man who had nothing, thinking that because I had shown him kindness, he would not take anything of mine. Slowly I began to check my pockets. Each pocket empty. Will came back in and sat down. In my mind, I began to prepare to ask him if I could have my card back. It is not that I needed the card. It bothered me more that he would take something from me after I had been kind to him.

Will sat there cold and shivering. I looked at him, a small smile of resignation to the cold came onto his face. I leaned forward, as a matter of principle to confront, Will. As I leaned forward, I placed my left hand under my left thigh. I felt the card beneath my leg as I was about to speak.

I think Will just wanted to stay warm. He had done nothing to me. I had convicted him in my heart. Will sat there cold and shivering. I gave him the card, it didn't mean anything to me anymore.