A Swag man or a Hobo

The swag man of my childhood.
Carried his swag (sleeping blanket) on his back.
A blackened old billy to heat his tea.
And a few other items in an dilapidated sugar bag.

 I watched a program the other night featuring a man who has wandered homeless for forty years.
He used to be a bank teller.
Then he decided he wanted to roam free, go where he liked and live a natural life.
He draws no government money so I suppose he does, the same as the swaggies of old.

As a child growing up in a small rural community, we often had these men wander into our small farm.
If I was the first to spot one coming over our hill, I'd run to tell my mother.
She prepared a tray of food while he chopped us a load of fire wood.
Then, sitting on our garden bench, under two tall gum trees, this roamer would eat his fill.
He usually had two huge sandwiches, one filled with cold lamb the other tomato, or jam.
Also a pot of hot tea, with milk and sugar on the side, plenty for him to top up on.
I always sat on the ground and watched as he ate without talking.
When he was finished he returned the tray to mum and thanked her, before heading off.

 

I can't imagine such a life.

On your own with no one to talk to.

                                                        Sleeping out in the rain or cold.

There is a verse in the bible that reminds me of this....

Jesus replied, 

“Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Luke 9: 58

I pray (if you haven't already done so), that you invite Jesus....
Into you home and life today. 



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