A Tribute to "Pops"

Homeless man found dead under bridge


By Patrick George | Sunday, July 13, 2008, 03:58 PM

"A 63-year-old man known to police as a transient was found dead under a bridge Sunday morning, police said.

The man, who went by the name of “Pops,” was discovered under Braker Lane and Interstate 35, said Austin Police Sgt. Richard Stresing. His real name has not been released. Stresing said police don’t believe foul play was involved, and that the death was possibly natural."

--end Statesman article--

Dear Mr. George:

My heart grieves as I send this to you. My name is Vicki and I am proud to be a member of a group that we call the Sandwich Crew. For almost a year now, each Tuesday, we have been going out on our lunch break and handing out sandwiches to the homeless folks on a route that includes the Braker / IH 35 corner. We have been documenting these trips on a blog, which we call the Sandwich Diaries. Here is the link: http://sandwichdiaries.blogspot.com/

We know Pops and in his honor, I have copied entries from the dairies below. We ride motorcycles and are Members of Bikers for Christ ministry. I rode right past Pops Sunday morning on my way to church…if I had only known… Due to work schedules, we had to stop going to this intersection so it’s been a while since we have seen Pops. I believe that we will all have sandwiches together in eternity – where there will be no more tears and no more pain. I refuse to allow him to die as just another homeless man. Rick, a member of the Crew and Pastor of our church, wanted it to be noted that "Pops was a veteran and a hero in my book ... He always knew our names and always asked about the ones that couldn't make it".

Today we will be taking flowers to the Braker corner. Pops we love you and you are missed. The last entry says it all.

Sandwich Day #3 – 9/25/07
Pops – We met him last week but he just wandered up and got lunch and left. This week we spoke for a while. He says that God created the world for us to mess up. I asked him if he knew Jesus and he just nodded his head like saying no. I told him that Jesus was his hope for eternity. I’m not sure if he understood me over the roar of the traffic going by. I pray that next week I will have another chance to explain.

Sandwich Day #9 – 11/6/07
POPS!!! So good to see him! It's been a couple of weeks. Rick and I visit with Pops for a few minutes when Rick sees a guy under the bridge. So off Rick goes for more lunches and I stay with Pops. For an instance, you now can see me on the corner with Pops, Jerry on the other side of the highway and Rick under the bridge. Pops gives me his sign. So for a moment - I stood in Pops shoes - holding a sign watching cars pass by. I was holding the sign with one hand and give the peace sign with the other. I recommend everyone to experience this. Only one guy looked and gave the peace sign back. No one else even looked...or at least they made darn sure that I didn't see them look. I asked Pops if he is happy. He said yes. He said there is a difference in being alone and being lonely. I understand that one. I asked him how he was doing with Jesus and he just smiled. I told him that I was still praying for him and I could tell that he was ok with that. Pops is really cool. Dear Lord, please, let's not lose him!

Sandwich Day #10 – 11/13/07
I have never been under the bridge of a highway. It is VERY NOISY. Pops and James are there. When Pops sees me he says..."Hi Baby Girl!" That was all I was able to hear the whole conversation...but it was enough! They received the sack lunches and the pair of boots that Rick had brought to Pops. Pops and I threw each other a kiss goodbye and it was time to climb back up to the frontage road.

Sandwich Day #14 – 12/11/07
I saw Pop!! It’s been several weeks since we have visited. He was looking good…had a new hat. Sheldon shared his faith in Jesus and Mike just likes to talk allot! I asked Pop if he has given Jesus anymore thought and he said no. I continue to pray for his breakthrough.

Sandwich Day #15 – 12/15/07
Pop gave me a hug. I asked him if he had given Jesus any thought and he said that he thinks about Jesus every day. I wonder if Pop is pulling my chain. Last visit he tells me he had not given any thought to Jesus. It’s ok…I love him anyway!

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James 1:17
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

If we only decided each and every day to live in such a way. That each day is a perfect gift from the Father. Stop frowning, start smiling and look at what you have today and thank Him for it. Start a new life today by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, because tomorrow may be too late.

Questions on understanding who Jesus was and what he did for you?

Understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ
The Bridge