Homeless Man

a crowd begins to form...



a stranger carries his face...

could this procession really be for one tragic man?

the site of the accident

on his fateful vespa...

his picture is all over the mourning town...

Though we only saw Mr. Butch a few times on a corner holding his cup for change, we found out that he was a 30+ year resident of Boston and that his intentions long ago were to be homeless. He made an astounding impact on the community, more so in death than in life, it seemed--they didn't know what they treasured until it was gone.

But as we got caught up in the memorial procession (on our way down to the ocean to enjoy a date that marked our first date six years ago in St. Joe, MI), I could not help being reminded of another homeless man who shook up the community around him...

Oh, You did not have a home
There were places You visited frequently
You took off Your shoes and scratched Your feet
'Cause you knew that the whole world belongs to the meek
But You did not have a home
No, You did not have a home

And You did not take a wife
There were pretty maids all in a row
Who lined up to touch the hem of Your robe
But You had no place to take them, so You did not take a wife
No, You did not take a wife

Birds have nests, foxes have dens
But the hope of the whole world rests
On the shoulders of a homeless man
You had the shoulders of a homeless man

No, You did not have a home
Well you had no stones to throw
You came without an ax to grind
You did not tow the party line
No wonder sight came to the blind
You had no stones to throw
You had no stones to throw

And You rode and ass' foal
They spread their coats and cut down palms
For You and Your donkey to walk upon
But the world won't find what it thinks it wants
On the back of an ass' foal
So I guess You had to get sold
'Cause the world can't stand what it can't own
And it can't own You 'Cause You did not have a home

Birds have nests, foxes have dens
But the hope of the whole world rests
On the shoulders of a homeless man
You had the shoulders of a homeless man
No, You did not have a home

Birds have nests, foxes have dens
But the hope of the whole world rests
On the shoulders of a homeless man
You had the shoulders of a homeless man
And the world can't stand what it can't own
And it can't own You
'Cause You did not have a home

~Rich Mullins 1997