ROBERT HIGGINS

For the last several weeks I have been doing my best to spend time with Robert Higgins. He's a 77 year old man who lives alone in the motel where we serve each month.

The manager of the motel, Pete, is the one who helped Robert get off the street and into a room there just over a year ago. Pete and I confer together and do our best to make sure that Robert has food, is doing well, and is cared for as much as we possibly can.

Just about a year ago Robert fell and broke his arm very badly. They put a plate in his arm to help it heal but now, after 11 months of agony and endless back and forth visits to UCI for CAT Scans and MRI's, he is still in pain and unsure of what to do next.

Today I took him lunch (he loves Taco Bell burritos) and we sat and talked about his situation. I prayed for him and he finally agreed to go and see an M.D. about his other symptoms - emphysema, vertigo, chronic fatigue.

I've also been trying to help him get back in touch with his son (Robert Anderson Higgins) and his daughter (Cynthia Anne Higgins). So far I've had no luck getting in touch with either.

As I stood up to leave his room this afternoon, Robert hung his head and said, "Thank you so much for keeping up with me, Keith" and I saw him pause and his face contorted and his eyes squeezed shut and I knew he was trying hard not to cry.

I touched his shoulder. "I'm happy to do it, Robert," I said. "God bless you."

Whether or not Robert ever gets in touch with his children again, and whether or not he ever gets his medical situation worked out, I think his greatest need is simply human contact. He needs to know he is loved. He needs to be reminded that God sees him and loves him and has not forgotten this little, fragile, old man.

Pray for Robert today if you would. Pray that God would reveal more of Himself to Robert and bring healing to his heart, and to his soul.

Amen.