Survival and A Prayer

This Saturday November Morning in 50 degree weather and a cool drizzle of rain,I left my cave and headed about three-quarters of a mile to the outskirts of Philadelphia,PA USA.This is my usual Saturday morning trek for brunch at one of my favorite spots.
Along the way I was greeted and entertained by the brightly-colored splendor of Fall and the approaching Christmas Holiday Season: Fallen piles of yellow,brown,gold and crimson leaves showed off their brilliance amidst green pine tree needles. A lone, bright orange pumpkin stood vigilance on a old porch,several feet from a large woodpile.Several windows of a colonial brick-styled apartment complex were blushing with bright red velvety christmas bows and ribbons.
I reached the fast food restaurant,ordered my brunch and sat down to eat.In came a
little old white- bearded man with a Jamaican accent.He placed his order.When the
clerk asked if he wanted," Grilled,baked or ..", the man explained,"I don't care.It doesn't matter.I'm broke as a dog.I just want something to eat. Whatever you have for five dollars.Just give me that.I'm just hungry".The clerk looked at the man as he rustled up a platter of food and said,"What kind of work do you do?" The old man replied, "I am a hack (unlicensed taxi) man.Things are slow.I'm just trying to get to the next job.The clerk smiled,gave the little man his platter and wished him a good day.I thought about mutual survival here.The clerk could have insisted that the man stick to the precise menu and costs as some merchants do, But he did not. The clerk made a sale.The man got a meal and both survived for another day.
I left the restaurant feeling good about what just transpired and as I approached
another old man who was walking ahead of me,he heard my footsteps,turned around,looked me in the eye and said,"God loves you sir.Have a great weekend!"
I immediately replied,'You too'.
As the man walked further ahead of me,I noticed that he had no socks on.Instead, he had a red and white neckerchief tied on each foot covered by his pair of white sneakers.Now,this may not mean anything to you but I immediately wondered,who is the clown here? Me or this old guy? Who could really authentically tell me that God loves me besides another clown? I interpreted this as a brightly-colored prayer,custom- designed especially for me.