Written by Wayne Waldera:

During those winter days of the week of February 22nd, I noticed my feet being very cold. I didn’t think too much of it given the sub zero temperatures. A couple days into the week, my toes started to hurt. That Friday my wife Debra took a look at my feet. They were clay in color and I just about hit the roof when she tried to touch my toes. That night we decided to soak them in some warm water. I had all I could do to let my feet soak. Debra was drying my feet and discovered purple and red spots on the bottom of my toes.

Off to Urgent Care the next day. The doctor was miffed as to what was going on and she recommended two things. First, see my primary doctor and second, wear some nice heavy soft socks at home. We made a stop at the mall on the way home for some nice heavy soft socks. My primary doctor was off the next week (Murphy’s Law). I spent part of my birthday seeing his colleague. He had seen similar things like this and recommended I see a specialist.

The good Lord provided me with an opportunity to see the specialist in just two days. Her diagnosis was chilblains. This is a cutaneous disorder characterized by the development of cold-induced erythrocyanotic skin lesions. Say what? With my medication, my toes are getting better and the pain has decreased a great deal. Those soft heavy socks that I purchased at the mall ended up too small for me. This was a disappointment.

My home parish, The Cathedral of St. Paul is collecting socks. On Friday, March 6, I took my socks with me to morning Mass. My intention was to donate them to the Cathedral and their cause. Jesus has something else in mind. While westbound on I-94, I take Exit 241A to get on Marion Street. As I sat at the red light, there was a homeless man standing at the corner. We made eye contact and Jesus told me that he wanted this man to have my socks. I rolled the window down and gave him the socks. He said “This is exactly what I need! Thank you and God bless you!” My response was “You are welcome and God bless you!” As I waited for the light to turn green, this was one of those “close moments” we all talk about as I was seeing Christ in the flesh standing on a corner.

Once in the Cana Chapel for Mass, I couldn’t take my eyes off the Crucifix. The pain in my toes brought me back to our Holy Land Pilgrimage two years ago and to ponder Christ’s passion. I have been struggling with some tangible almsgiving this lent. Jesus has asked me to purchase socks and be prepared to give them to the homeless when I see them on the street corners.

That Friday morning March 6th has been a Metanoia for me. I never thought I would be giving to the homeless on our street corners. In the past, I actually wished I wouldn’t see the homeless on the street corners. Now I have a bag of white gold toe socks in the back seat of my car. I am ready, excited, and willing to roll down my window, see Christ in the flesh, and give some socks away.

Wayne Waldera