I stepped out of the grocery store into the dark street and found Jerry standing before me with a plastic bag in his hand.
Lee, who stood beside me asked, "You been shopping?"
Jerry opened the bag and inside was a wheel. A small, hard rubber wheel. It was for his shopping cart.
I had seen Jerry cleaning in the park and along the streets many times. I often thanked him for working so hard. Bocas isn’t exactly clean and it was always nice to see someone working to make it a little better.
I didn’t know Jerry wasn’t working for the town. I had no idea he was doing it for free.
I did know he carried clothing in his shopping cart, along with his broom and dust pan, and an old lamp he was planning to fix.
I also knew he carried his Bible. I usually saw him with it stuffed in the pocket of his shorts.
Once I saw him sitting on a park bench early in the morning, reading.
Lee didn't see the ever-present Bible, so he asked, “Do you have your Bible?”
Jerry's eyes lit up and a smile jumped to his previously serious face.
He patted his pocket. It was hiding there, well cared for and protected as the most valuable thing he carried.
I decided keep an eye out for Jerry. Next time I saw him cleaning, I thanked him for his hard work and I took him out to lunch.
It was a privilege to eat with a man who loves God and loves to clean.