It’s a cold day today and it made me think of a sweet, scraggly, old Mexican homeless man named Louis.

Ron introduced me to Louis on the steps of the Old Stone Church in downtown Cleveland. For a long time Ron had spent evenings with him reading Scriptures and talking to him. But Louis had never spoken to him. So that first night I went out on the Salvation Army truck Ron introduced me and left me there on the steps with him.

I came back in the truck and told Ron, “Did you know he is a musician from Mexico. He came here to play music and has been homeless 40 years?” Ron knew none of that. He asked, “How did you find out all that?” I told him I just asked.

Louis stole my heart. I spent time with him every weekend. When it was cold I’d bring him on the truck in the heat, give him some hot chocolate and just spend time talking to him. I loved that scraggly bearded old man.

Eventually we didn’t see him anymore. He probably passed away. He was someone who if you saw him on the street you might cross the street to not walk by him. Most would never know his name or have a conversation with him. He slept outside on the street and you might see him and think he’s not worth your time.

But taking the time to get to know him I found a man with a heart of gold who lived a very hard life. He is one of the reasons I love hearing people’s stories. Every face has a story. I was blessed to know his.