[Gracey]

Thought I'd share this with ya'll.

Ray Peersi & the Blind Woman
This morning, I was treated to one of those Holy moments we frequently long for and rarely experience. My mother and I had plans to spend the day together, and we started our morning at McDonalds for coffee and a biscuit. After we orded, and found ourselves a seat, I found myself busy describing the stresses of working with the inner city population, children who are in need, and the general lack and poverty in the world around me. I was frustrated; couldn't understand why people couldn't SEE. And then, my mother looks at me with eyes that hardly see and said, "Do you think that man is hungry?"

Sitting across from us was an older gentleman. He had the "homeless look:" mismatched clothes, a winter coat two sizes too big, hands that had seen a LONG day at only 9 am. Mom went and bought him some coffee and a couple of biscuits and gave the tray to him and said something. He sat there for the longest time, and God told me, "Go help him fix his coffee." Do what God? You want me to do what? How about I buy him a soda instead? Maybe he doesn't even like coffee. And God said, "Holli, go fix the man's coffee." And then my mother said, "Do you think maybe he needs help with his coffee?" Ok, point taken God.

I got up, and walked over to his table and asked could I help him. He nodded his head, and for the first time I realized he was sitting there staring at the coffee cup b/c he was crying; not b/c he was "special." Ohhhhh the tears that fell alongside the cream that I poured into that coffee. He looked up at me with sclerea scarred eyes and thanked me and it was then that I saw the eagle, globe and anchor tattoo on the back of his wrist. I wanted to fall on my face right there.

I watched this morning, from the safety of my bubble of righteousness as a blind woman ministered to Ray Peersi. The blind woman saw what I missed, what I rage at others to see, what I was too busy with MY minsitry to see. She saw a hungry man, and a soul in need of touching. Thank you Lord, for giving me hands with which to touch those that others fear. Thank you Lord, for giving a blind woman sight to see what most of us miss. But thank you most of all, for the encounter with Your angel, Ray Peersi.

[(JD)]

[nowheretorun]

cried when i read this.. good tears.. wishing peaceful Blessing to everyone...

[scott88keys]

What a beautiful story, Gracey, thanks for sharing it.

[eskielover]

Gracey,

What a beautiful post.....thank you for sharing.

How many time we don't see what is right in front of us because we are so caught up in our own lives, or as you say ministeries of our own. We can expect others to act, & we see what others should do & see, but when it comes to ourselves, we think we are doing everything we should be doing & we couldn't possibly be like all those others that we see doing it all wrong.

Not until it is pointed out to us do we realize that we are missing the important things in life that are around us. How it takes someone that is blind to see what we don't see, just tells us how caught up in our thoughts we are that we don't let ourselves see as clearly as someone who is more sensitive to life around them.....who isn't as caught up in the bad things in the world around them & filled with knowing that something needs to happen rather that really seeing the actual world that is directly around them.

As the ID theft & breakin of my truck in Albuquerque last week is unfolding, it looks like that the person who stole the information off my credit card & took my drivers license to verify my ID(the motel clerk....it had to be) then broke into my truck to find more ID information, was actually using it for the good for someone (friend, girlfriend, ????). Sadly, the credit card was used to purchase children's shoes & to pay a water bill that was way overdue & was about to be shut off. It was also used to pay for phone service through crickettcom those details I could get no information on.

I got all my money back from the ID theft use so far, but the loss of my flute is keeping me on the trail & also making me push the police & that I can possibly get to help. Given what I have found out, part of me wants to call & offer that I will pay the water bill & buy the shoes if only all my things will be returned to me as they were in the bag.......making sure that they know in the future that this is not the way to get help.

I could look at the picture & see nothing but my truck break-in & theft of my ID & my valuable flute & jewelry with my anger closing out everything else......but the picture is showing much more when I really look at it & it really is a sad picture of someone trying hard just to help someone else at this Christmas time of year...trying to make a childrens christmas better just by buying shoes & making sure that water is not being shut off.

Opening our eyes to see the reality of what is around us isn't easy when we are so thoroughly involved in our own world & crusades.....it is amazing what we see when other point out to us what we try to point out to others.

Your post hit home with everything I am going through right now & is so meaningful especially at this time of year, but important to keep in our mind throughout the year.

Thank you for sharing this post,
Debbie

[Doh2007]

For we don't know when we might entertain an angel.

[Greenleaves]

Can someone explain this story to me? I don't understand. Sorry I don't know much.

Who is Ray Peersi? Also who is blind? I don't understand. Is the guy blind and the woman is blind too?



What do angels have to do with this? Also what do the tattoos mean? How come this story is touching?

Please explain.

[Gracey]

Um. Wow Greenleaves.

I can only speak for myself, so I shall.

It touched me b/c my mother is blind. She is also a former homeless person. Despite her blindness, she recognized someone was hungry. The significance of the tattoo is that it represents those who have served in the Marine Corps.

I suppose the angel could be perceived a couple of ways. I think we are always in the company of angels.

[Greenleaves]

Oh I see, so it's a personal story?

Oops. I thought it was in reference to something. Sorry I didn't get it. Thnaks for explaining to me.

That's nice that your mother saw someone was hungry.

[Greenleaves]

Oops, I just realized, was my asking about this offensive? Was it offensive that I didn't get it? I'm sorry if it was.

I'll shut up about this now. Curiousity got the better of me.

[wickedwings]

((((gracey)))) thank you so must for sharing your experience. it was really powerful. i loved it.