by Nancy Linenkugel
Contributor
“It feels so good to have saved up some money so that I could pay off an old debt. Yay!” exclaimed friend Amarie. “Yes, I’m really happy for you," I said. And are you going to share your secret of how you did that?”
“Well, it was hard work and kind of scary. Actually, I went homeless.” Seeing the of horror on my face, she quickly continued, “No, I wasn’t really homeless, but yes, maybe I was. I did exit from the house I had been renting to get out from under that monthly payment. I’ve been house-sitting for a college friend who lives in the area and is on a cruise with her husband for three months. I live at their house for free in exchange for watching the place and keeping everything in working order. So yes, I’m homeless in the literal sense of the word but no, I’m really not since I have a roof over my head.”
“Now that’s faith in God,” I respond. “You bet,” Amarie bubbles on. “There’s been so much faith needed. I can’t really tell you what this experience has done for me on a spiritual and personal level. I know I’m stronger to face the adventures of life. My bank account is definitely stronger. I owed a considerable amount from loans on a past business I owned and I’ve struggled for years to put that behind me. With the money I’ve saved over the past few weeks I finally reached that dream. So rejoice with me!”
Ever the worrywart and Miss Practical, I asked, “And then what? When your homeowner friend returns and no longer needs your services, what then? Will you be out on the street? And what about all your stuff?”
Amarie just smiled knowingly in an I’ve-already-thought-of-that manner.
“Oh, I’m expecting Carla back in two weeks but — and do you want to know how God provides? I’ll be heading off to a new job starting next month. This job is exactly what I’ve always wanted to do. The crazy thing is that I wasn’t even looking for a different job — the company found me. Isn’t that something? The company found me from who-knows-where and liked my resume. I already interviewed, and I start next month.”
“As for all my stuff,” Amarie continued, “I’ve taken this time as a ready-made opportunity to get rid of a ton. It’s amazing what you have sitting around that you really don’t need. I’m on a first-name basis with the workers in the Stevenson thrift shop because I’ve been there so often.”
Amarie suggested, “Could you use a table lamp? Some canning jars? An art piece from Nova Scotia? You know how I like native culture. A lava lamp shirt from the 1960s? Oh wait, I can’t part with that — I’m wearing it!”
[Sr. Nancy Linenkugel is a Sylvania Franciscan sister and chair of the department of Health Services Administration at Xavier University, Cincinnati Ohio.]