04.14.08 Walter

Walter waited until the crowd around the Compassion table thinned before talking to me.  He looked like a high school basketball coach from back home.  A little thick in the middle, more than a little thin on top, face deeply creased by almost seventy years of living, a blue wind breaker on over a button up shirt and elastic waist dress pants.  His voice was low and gravelly, his fingers and teeth nicotine stained.

He stuck out his stiff puffy hand and I shook it and asked his name.  “Walter*,” he said.

“I’m Shaun.”

We stood there in awkward man-silence for too many seconds before I saw the Compassion packet hanging out of his bible and asked him where his sponsored child was from.

“Peru, he said.  And then a moment more of silence while Walter removed the papers from the packet and held them at arms length to read more about the boy.  “God hasn’t blessed me with...kids of...my own,” he said, his voice cracking before every pause.  “But now-”

Then Walter cleared his throat and quickly forced himself back to composed.  He slapped me hard a couple times on the back and announced, “Have a good ‘un,” as if he were wishing me “Good game.” And headed home with his boy.

Walter was just one of 70 generous Georgians who sponsored kids Sunday.  Thanks to Ben for booking this weekend, Bush for working the Compassion table, driving (a lot) and being such good company. And thanks to the folks at FBC Barnesville and Liberty Hills United Methodist for giving me so much of your time and for releasing so many kids from poverty.

Good game.

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*Names are often changed on this blog to protect the transparent.