Houston has a goodly share of beggars and bridges. Most of the beggars – forgive me this – look the part, at home, if you will, under a bridge.
[The family pictured here was only camping, not homeless.]
Some, however, do raise an eyebrow and serve to tempt:
“Why, he looks perfectly able and healthy – why can’t he get a job?!”
That one looked like Santa Claus.
Wha-?
I said, “That one looked like Santa Claus!”
Did you see him?
Then I realized I was talking to myself; it’d been one of those kinda weeks.
Sigh.
I was on my way home for the Advent Paraklesis service at church when, while turning left under a bridge, I spotted what looked to be Santa … begging.
“Now, wait a minute,” I thought!
He was holding a cardboard poster with some writing on it – but, thanks to the cold rain, I couldn’t quite make it out.
Hmmph. Not tonight, buddy! I didn’t give him anything. I mean, heck, he’s SANTA! What does one give Santa for Christmas?
Weird.
I just drove on past, making my way toward the highway …
My last glance caught a twinkle in his eye and a bit of smile on his lips and …
Y’all, his sign read NEED BEER.
What is this world coming to?
I squeezed in between …
The Orthodixie Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.