Here is a story about my Friend Rooster and yes he is a homeless man that I have gotten to know over the years. I have always said that I am a recovering jerk and tend to laps form time to time. My first encounter with rooster was on a cold night and I do mean cold. It was 10 below zero and the wind was howling like a coon dog after a coon. I had had a rotten day and was having a petty party for myself because the world seemed as though it did not care. I came out of a hunting story in my town and met this man outside who was asking for help to get a room to get out of the cold. I looked at him and thought right...your room is at the bottom of a bottle. As I rushed by he said have a blessed night Sir. I got to my truck and sat there for a minute and then I started my tuck and pulled around where rooster was stay and said get in sir. I looked a bit shocked and the asked why. I said so I can get you a room for the night. He let out a scream that could have woke the dead. He told me where to get him a room at and when I pulled into the parking lot there were police everywhere and I said this does not look to good. A officer came up to my window and said that this hotel would be closed until morning. I looked over at rooster and told him that I know of a good place to get a room. I took him to a place that is very nice in town where one of my friends is the general manager. I called them and told them what I wanted to do and they said ok. I got him a room and told him to get something to eat. The next day my friend called me and asked if I told rooster he could have a job and I said no why? They said that he was picking up all the trash around the property and it 20 below zero. I told them I would be there soon. I got to the hotel and found rooster and asked what he was doing? He said I may be homeless but I am not a free loader. I told him that I had paid for the room and he did not have to do this and he looked me dead in the eyes and said I know i do not have too but I want to. I said ok and went to talk to my friend. I told them that I wanted to pay for 6 more nights and they said fine. The next day rooster was fixing things in the hotel and helping guest with there bags. My friend asked me to talk to rooster and tell him that he could not be doing this stuff. The maintenance suppervisor to the GM he was really good at fixing things. So the GM asked rooster if he would like to work here and he said yes. I was never billed for the nights he stayed at the hotel because my friend said he was a blessing to their property. Rooster asked the GM if he could rent a room long term there and he would pay them when he got paid. They said yes. Rooster would bee up early and work late and he would never turn in his time. The GM said to rooster one day why dont you turn in your extra time for over time pay. He looked my friend in the eyes and told them those where his Sparks and he could not be paid for them. Rooster worked at the hotel until he made enough money to go home. I had not heard from rooster in over a year and I got a call tonight from his sister and she told me he had passed away. I started to cry uncontrollabley and I told his sister I was sorry for their loss because he was a great man. She shared with me the Sparks he had been doing and she told me that he said always that I hope I make Dave proud. I told her that I always said the same thing to him. I am not sure I will ever acheive what my friend rooster did but until I draw my last breath I will try. The hardest thing about One Spark is loosing a friend that I tried to help but in the end he helped me. He taught me about truly giving. Here is what rooster would tell people who said they could not help people because they did not have money. You are not only financially broke but you are menatally broke. He would tell them that he would rather be financially broke than mentally broke. I will be getting a check from his sister for 512.33 to Spark people. That was roosters dying wish was to send his life savings to me and have me Spark it up for rooster. That I shall do. I am asking each of you to do a Spark for rooster and when asked who he was...tell them he was a homeless angel put on this earth to teach people how to give. I am tired and get on a plane to go to New Orleans for meetings and not sure what is going on where I d=feed my homeless friends. They have put a fence around the park to keep people out. I am asking for your prayers that we will be able to feed where we have been feeding for years. Ok I have to get read and one last thing...please say a prayer for roosters family and for me because this loss is a hard one and my heart is hurting. I love you guys. Love David
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 08:37:29 +0000