who needs J.C. Watts?

"May I have a food basket please. I know that it is close to the holiday and I am sorry to be in the position to be like a nuisance or in yall's or the way. (Then he puts his social security number and birthday)."

"Luke, Brother Luke I tried to give you some kind of donation or to give some kind of tithing, but it just wont happen. Sorry please keep helping me, if you need washing powder let me know."

"Dear God, Thank you, Cross and Crown for the food that we eat. In the name of Jesus. Amen."

"Merry XMAS and a Happy New Year"

"Luke, See how beat up this card is!? Please Bless me with a deck!!"

"Luke, Is there anyone who will starch my clothes for me. I like the clothes that was given to me, and I want them to last me, long as possible"

"K.O.M.A. Prep player of the Week 1975...Jet Player of the Week by Jet Magazine 1977... MVP at Taft Stadium OKC Preview 1975"

"Luke, May I have the same on hot dogs and the peppered beef. I talk to brother Paul last week. And I am to get with you and him about the amount and the fixin of my food baskets"

"To: Luke, May I have a food basket with a can of ham, and a can of sardines (for sho)"

"May I have a food basket please. I know that it is close to the holiday and I am sorry to be in the position to be like a nuisance or in yall's or the way. (Then he puts his social security number and birthday)."

The following messages on each of these note cards have been collected over the last year and a half or so from one of my favorite friends downtown. His name is Michael and until recently he was homeless. Michael was an all-state football player (an alternate to Oklahoma's own J.C. Watts) at Star Spencer high school and briefly attended college at Arkansas Pine Bluff.Michael now lives in a home where he pays rent to a few others in exchange for a room. Michael is an interesting man.

I won't say much else about Michael's personal life but I don't think he would mind if I shared some of his cards with you. The first several months, close to a year, that I knew Michael he wouldn't speak but two words to me but would hand me a envelope full of note cards. Usually his requests were simple but had to be met to perfection or he became upset. Over time, I guess once a level of trust was built, Michael began to speak more and be a little more flexible with his requests.

He is a very thankful person but is often easily aggravated. Michael openly admits he is bi-polar and from time to time deals with other struggles. Michael is a funny man and has a pretty comical personality when he is in a good mood. We see Michael pretty much every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as, most Sundays.

Michael keeps a pretty tight schedule. Honestly, he probably has a more structured plan on a week to week basis than I do. In fact, I know he does. The messages above are some of my favorite messages Michael has given me over the course of time. My favorite is the one that he ends with, "fo show". Ha ha. But, I also enjoy the Christmas card he made this past year. I wasn't the only one to receive one. Every staff member and several volunteers also received Christmas index cards from Michael.

Enjoy.