The tale of three men on the street and two of them renewed my faith

 

Three different men. The most recent encounter today is what gets the clicks, the views instead of the two men who renewed my faith.

This guy today around 9:30 a.m. walks into Starbucks, approaches me and asks me if he can sit with me. Have no clue who he is and I say, "Not with me." Then he sneaks into one of the restrooms. Hasn't made a purchase. 

Few minutes later, one of the male baristas on his break goes to use the restrooms, comes back and informs the store manager and supervisor in code about the "restroom." I won't use the exact phrase but it made sense a few minutes later.

The guy approaches me again after he gets out of the restroom, tries to block my movement and is moving in a threatening manner and I tell him to leave me alone or I will call Eureka Police Department.

A few minutes later, the staff had to ask him to leave for allegedly "exposing himself" which was observed by the male employee in the restroom area. This guy cusses them out. They could have called the police on him; they did not. He then had the nerve to ask if he could come back tomorrow. They didn't say no. They told him the rules which every customer has to follow. He walked towards Old Town. I was not the one who observed this alleged act or I would have called EPD.

So, if you are out with your kids and a woman alone today in the Old Town area; steer clear of this guy. 

This particular location on 5th street in Eureka has a great staff. The employees are local so for those of you PC, anti corporate locals; spare me your lecture. I support local businesses too but my criteria is good service, good product and locals I know for over 20 years; not virtue signaling. Instead of typing your keyboard or phone, get out there and do something positive for your community.

This staff is compassionate towards many of the homeless and mentally ill who wander in here, camp out for hours and most are respectful. Just minutes ago, a woman with obvious mental issues came in, acted out a bit, but she was not asked to leave. She made a purchase, was gently told not to be disruptive and left on her own. The guy above in the photo I took and a few others make it harder on others who are out in the streets and who have few places to rest for a bit and the same troublemakers chase away those who are trying to improve their situation. 

Just yesterday, I saw a guy, who is on the streets and who I have seen before around town and once at Starbucks. Very polite, respectful, keeps himself clean the best he can. You couldn't tell he is homeless. He has one bag. I won't say where I saw him yesterday but I initiated a conversation with him. I know his name now; he knows mine. 

When I initially approached him, I complimented him about something and asked him for some input. We chatted. I did not ask him for anything. I was about to leave and he said, "are you okay? Do you have a few dollars to get what you need?" His offer was genuine and probably prompted because part of our conversation included the challenges of housing Humboldt. I did that because when I reached out initially, I did not want him to think I was judging him in any way and and to offer him hope. 

I said," I am okay. Thank you for offering." I don't share this because of the offer of money but for those judgemental people who look down on those less fortunate. Then, I took a chance and asked him a question. I never impose my faith on anyone and asked if it was okay for me to pray for him to find housing.  And if he was not comfortable with that, I would express it differently.

He teared up and said yes," Jesus is in my heart." Yesterday, despite the wind, challenges I face and the hate directed at me by local bullies and misers, I walked around Eureka all day. I took some time off to enjoy the sun, the clean air, to be grateful for my faith, express my gratitude to God, to express thanks to.the many people I see as I walk around town who smile, acknowledge, thank me for what I do and support me. I remembered the many times I used to reach out to people like this gentleman in the past whether it be in church or walking around town or at the courthouse. 

When I deal with constant retaliation due to my independent reporting, it takes away time to do what I want; make a difference in the community I live in and to pay it forward. I do not have to go into a building or church to spread the Word or make some display of my faith to impress anyone. I care about my community and the people who live here. The minority of shrills online do not define Humboldt or own it. They do drag down even the strongest here who muster a smile despite our own challenges.

Years ago in Old Town, during winter, I saw a young man digging through the dumpster and he found a half eaten sandwich someone threw away. "Thank you Jesus" he said. It was one of those days when all the negativity of covering courts, doing independent reporting and the constant retaliation in this town by evil was wearing me down. I went home; grateful for the roof over my head and a warm place at night. 

I thought of Matthew 6:26. "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" The man yesterday gave me something more valuable than money.

I would rather be out lifting up my fellow human beings all the time then covering criminals and exposing corruption and abuse of power. I do that daily; you just don't read about it on my blog except in rare instances like this post.

Prayers alone are not going to help the man I spoke to yesterday. Someone in a position to help and to hear and be the one to answer that prayer here on earth is the action needed.

I don't know what his situation is but if there is anything I can do to put his name in front of those who house people; I will. Single men have the most difficult time being housed in Humboldt.

It never amazes me that random acts of kindness come from people who are struggling themselves. There are people in this town with so much wealth, generational money, often inherited; not earned. They have profited from me and used me. Forget helping me; they won't unless they can control me and they know that has not happened for 21 years despite their efforts to destroy, attack and silence me. They don't do a damn thing for anyone just out of the goodness of their heart. They are too cheap to even buy a stranger a cup of coffee or a meal but watch them chow down food at the Ingomar Christmas parties like they haven't had a meal in days.

Others who have shared similar experiences with these people can speak up and show some courage for a change. I have gone to some of these so called "successful", "influential"  Pharisees asking them to help others like the gentleman I spoke with yesterday. They didn't. They will let an apartment sit empty or help some low life who conned them and doesn't live a moral life by their church standards then help those God wants them to because they are not listening to God.

For some of you who are getting ready for Easter next weekend; for some of you who observing Passover this week; you can continue to be Scrooges with your money and time feeling entitled, I don't really care. But if you claim to be holy and believe in God, I challenge you this week to do one good deed and be nice to that barista, that server who puts up with your demands or do something that helps one person move forward from struggle to prosperity and do it without strings attached.