By Gale Stoddard
His name is Edwin Petersen and he has lived in Buena Park since he was a boy.
His grandfather bought a home in the 1950s in the City of Buena Park. That is where he resided with his grandfather for decades until his grandfather’s passing 20 years ago. At that time, the house was transferred to his sister who owned it until 2017 when she decided to sell the house.
Suddenly, Edwin found himself homeless.
Despite his lot in life, Edwin remains exuberant, which I have noticed when I hand him bags of recyclables. He’s always so happy, like a child finding a favorite toy under the Christmas tree. For months I have noticed Edwin waving at people as they go by on the street. At first, I thought he was just doing it for a day. But then, I kept seeing him about four times a week. So one day, I decided to stop and have a chat with him and give him some food I carry in a bin in my car.
Sometimes Edwin stays at the Southern Baptist church where popular pastor Wiley Drake heads his charitable ministry offering food and shelter for the homeless. I have been there and have taken cases of water and food donated by the vendors of past St. Pius V annual festivals. Although I have not attended the service, I always see a sign on the outside that reads, “Let’s pray for our city,” an invitation to pause and pray for blessings for Buena Park.
Edwin can be seen, well-dressed for someone who is without a home. He is very clean-cut and always gives everyone a friendly smile. His favorite spot is on the corner of Western and Orangethorpe Avenues, waving to people. Some wave back; especially the children, but I have noticed that adults seemingly could not care less. Are they too absorbed in life’s problems to notice the nice-looking man waving and wishing them a blessed day?
Edwin usually gives a huge laugh whenever someone is kind to him. He does not mind that people ignore his friendly gesture of waving, for he said he feels it’s their loss. I agree, because his jovial personality conveys that he is happier than most of us, which brings to mind the words of Nobel Prize Winner Mother Teresa.
“When you do acts of mercy, such as giving joy to others, showing kindness to the poor, sharing for and clothing along with your faith, you are so close to Jesus that He can almost kiss you.” It is sad that people do not get the meaning of Mother Teresa’s sage advice. I believe Edwin knows the secret to happiness and it is not rooted in money. It is obvious that God is Edwin’s priority and he has an attitude that all will be well.
Most of us are busy trying to earn a living and worrying about tomorrow, not knowing that God has already taken care of all of our tomorrows, for we are His children. God loves us unconditionally and knows and cares for all of our needs.
Usually, I stop and talk with Edwin and give him some food, consisting mostly of energy bars, canned Vienna Sausage, assorted health drinks, water and fresh or canned fruits.
When I asked Edwin where he used to live, he pointed toward the end of Western Avenue. The street ends near the apartment-laden Franklin Street where my family of seven people lived years ago in a cramped two-bedroom home. Today, people refer to the area as “the hood” and now gangs and home-invasion burglaries have infiltrated the neighborhood.
A few years ago, Buena Park was starring on Southland TV because of a particularly vicious crime where in an apartment bin, the local police found cut-up body parts of a woman. It was the same trash bin we used to use when we lived there.
The perpetrator of the crime happened to be the deceased woman’s husband; he was found dead of a self-inflected wound in an obscure motel room in a small town in the northwest where he evidently had been residing.
It is the actions of a person such as Edwin who takes the time to spend his day waving casually at passersby and cars speeding off to nowhere that we should emulate. For despite his station in life, he is still happy and wanting to spread happiness to others. He feels joy because Jesus is in his heart and Jesus is joy.
I tell people to remember that recycling empty bottles and cans could actually lead to the next meal for a homeless person. So save those bottles and cans, and think of putting them in big hefty bags and leave them inside your trunk. Next time you see a homeless person, hand them bags of recyclables and see their faces beam brightly like the early morning sun.
I know some people who have thrown thousands of recyclable bottles in the trash cans for more than 20 years. I had a difficult time telling her what she was missing in terms of charity and finally she saw the light; now she saves the bottles for me to pick up at her house 45 miles away.
She said she was not aware the empty cans could buy a meal for those living on the streets.
I know assuredly that Jesus comes in many disguises, especially in the face of the homeless. It is true that in their faces I see Jesus.
My children and grandchildren teasingly tell me, “Here’s some coins for your friends,” and they smile as they share their backpacks, expensive tennis shoes, jackets, blankets and allowance for my homeless friends.
In her book, Mother Teresa relates a story about a man she saw lying in the streets in rags. She and the other sisters carried him home where the nuns administered acts of mercy to him. After feeding him, they decided to clean him up. To their surprise, when they turned him over, they found he did not have a back as it had been eaten by maggots and insects. They lovingly cleaned his ragged body, taking care of his wounds with their faces full of smiles in gratitude for being able to be in the service of God.
Looking toward heaven with a bright smile, the beggar said, “Nobody has ever been this kind to me before. I have lived on the streets for decades. For everything you’ve done, I thank you. I’m so full of joy. Now I’m ready to go home to Jesus.”
That is truly something to think about as we daily grind our way through this chaotic world looking for that proverbial rainbow. Perhaps taking the time to notice that someone who needs our smile or kindness will leave us going home feeling good about ourselves for sharing a part of oneself for someone who needed it.
