CHANCE ENCOUNTER

Upon hearing there was someone in the Save-A-Lot parking lot giving away free meals, I immediately headed that way. I was expecting to find one of our community organizations, or even a Church, filling a need that is always there in our community. With poverty and homelessness, a major issue in our county, this is a common occurrence. I was astonished to find two women with their SUV's side by side with their back hatchbacks open serving meals off a small table. Their sign simply said "free meals”.

As I approached. their eyes lit up and with a welcoming smile. They ask if I would like a meal. Before I could say "yes please," they sprang into action serving up a healthy serving of mac and cheese and a hotdog. I noticed that in the back of one the vehicles wasa few cases of canned goods and several bags of clothing and a few coats. At this moment I knew this was no chance encounter.

After being served, before I could even introduce myself, there was another woman approaching who was obviously in dire need. I stepped back and watched as they opened their hearts and cared for this woman, fussing over her in a way that made my heart soar. I could feel their compassion as they loaded her up with all they had to offer. I marveled at the warm non-judgmental way in which they attended to her. They listened intently as the women explained how dire her situation was and how grateful she was for their help. I stood quietly thanking God for putting these two angels in my path.

That day reminded me that people like these ladies were God's hands in service to the hungry and forgotten. This was God's love in its purest form. In Matthew (25: 31-46) Jesus describes the Last Judgment saying "We will be judged based on how we treat the poorest and most vulnerable members of society". I stood enthralled as this played out right in front of me.

As the woman turned to leave and their attention turned back to me, I was eager to introduce myself. I told them about my organization, "The Newark Think Tank on Poverty” and how much we appreciate people like themselves and how much we had in common. I told them I would love to share their story with some friends if they were ok with it. They preferred not to have their pictures taken but I allowed a picture of their cars and serving table. They told me they were not from a church but just two friends who on that day decided to do something to help those in need. I left these two wonderful souls with a full measure of gratitude, knowing that we have good people like this throughout our community. People who really care and are willing to step up to serve the poor in His service. Certainly not a chance encounter, but a moment in time I will always cherish.

Eric L.

NTTP