Two Leftover Pieces of Pizza

While attending the American Baptist Churches Biennial Conference in Pasadena, CA, we tried out several resturants in Old Pasadena. On Saturday, we ate at The Kitchen Italian Café & Pizzeria. With a coupon we shared a small salad, a cheese bread appetizer, and a medium, 2-topping (Italian sausage & mushroom), New York style pizza. There were two large slices leftover.

Now, we’re staying in a hotel—we don’t have a fridge. And we’re not even going back to the hotel until later that afternoon. We’d planned to walk several blocks to a Starbucks for coffee & internet access next. Still, within a four-sentence exchange Alison & I decided to have our leftovers boxed up. If we saw a person along the way begging, we could give it to them. If we didn’t, we could just throw it away at that time since that's what the resturant would do anyway.

So we walked 4-5 blocks. No such people in need like there often had been during previous walks. Alison suggested we cross diagonally (is California the only place that does these diagonal crosswalks--who knew?!). We walked another 2-3 blocks and saw a young couple dirty and seated on the sidewalk. “Spare change for travel money?”

“Want some pizza?”

“Sure.”

(There was a sense of relief and satisfaction as we kept walking.) Then not a full block later, a young lady, who while we were handing off the pizza had passed us, turns back around and asked, “Do you know where a Starbuck’s is?” We then explained that there were two Starbucks on the street and she was closest to the one straight ahead just a few more blocks. She thanked us and walked on ahead of us.

::: Being recognized as helpful people is an important prerequisite for helping people find their Way. :::