It occurs to me that Eric's been reading the words of Jesus, since that is just about what Jesus told his critics through the words of his parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. You may want to check the passage out at Luke 16:19-31.

I have this hunch that Eric has a lot in common with Jesus.

I mean think about it.

Jesus was always upsetting the voices of reason of his day.

He made the religious leaders and the church folks mad as could be on a regular basis. Usually it was by pointing the inconsistency of their ways.

Or, even more, it was by simply telling them that they had missed the whole point of "doing God's will" in the world.

Eric's just carrying on a great tradition.

"my inconvenient existence may be a glimpse of your eternal reward..."

Something to think about the next time you feel inconvenienced by a poor person who has no place to live in a city of incredible wealth like Dallas, Texas.

What Eric wrote to me:

Larry,

I just became a member recently and just wanted to reach out in the matter discussed. I am a freelance homeless advocate who is homeless as I write.

I spend my days taking information from my brothers and sisters of the street and according to my resources and experience direct them from A-B instead of A-Z. It is an exhausting process to gain simple guidance in situations I see and live everyday. Being resourceful is paramount when in a situation that demands access to programs and persons who's word of referral actually holds weight in the community i.e Dallas County Welfare, or the S.S Office.

And in those situations I don't need to speak to the dead receptionist, I need the supervising officer or caseworker for the day. Within 3 weeks I have gained quite a reputation with the National Coalition for the Homeless and have voiced my mission all the way to Washington. We need individuals who are familiar with the process. Combing through phone books and calling 211 isn't the solution of course.

A change of heart and the stigma attached to my circumstance is. I am and will continue to be a voice for the beauty I see in my situation out here. There is no shame for me. If our public is so offended by the horror in the eyes of the homeless or mentally ill then change the face altogether. This I vow to fight for.

I've met through the years some of the most sensitive, artistic, multi-layered, philosophical, soldiers of the street, survivors of peril I'll ever meet. When a man may only have one meal for the day and spends half his sandwich with the pigeons, how could not the hardest critic burst with compassion..A short quote of mine before I part.

"my inconvenient existence may be a glimpse of your eternal reward"

Truly,
Eric