Doug, the 'God U Guy,' is a fixture on the University of Oregon campus. He's been there since my freshman year, often out in rain or shine, simply standing and chatting with students. He's an older man, sixty or so, who reminds me of my (equally religious) grandfather. He wears a vest and cap and never leaves his bike, which is covered in signboards reading "Trust Jesus," "God U," "God is Love," and so on. He doesn't "witness" to people or shout at sorority whores that they're harlots, he simply stands there and talks with the students who stop and chat. I talked with him once and he told me he wasn't really religious, just spiritual. The longer I lived in Eugene, the more I saw him around: at the Saturday market, biking downtown, etc. This Saturday I saw him in Seattle.

Before Sushi at Toyoda's, Justin and I went for a run around Greenlake, a 2.8k loop. About halfway through, there he was, sitting on a bench, his bike parked next to him.

I flailed my arms and ran up to him, forgetting that he'd have no clue who I was. "What are you DOING here?!" I babbled.

We talked for a few minutes and when Justin and I left, I held out my hand to shake his. He didn't proffer it at first, seemingly self-conscious of the dirty cracks and callouses that lined his palm.

"It's OK," I said, and we shook hands. I don't think he has a home, aside from the places he leans his bike. He assured me that he hadn't ridden it to Seattle, that he had driven... though I never really did understand what he was doing here, besides visiting for visiting's sake.

I still can't get over the fact that he was there in Greenlake; the fact that I happened to see him at all. Why this small coincidence? What does it mean?
Posted on March 06, 2006 @ 3:11 PM | 4 comments

Comments:

Perhaps...it means you are where you should be and that everything is connected. The world is after all...a seemingly disconnected series of coincidences. *smiles*

Take care, deary.

By  Cad, at 8:58 AM, March 07, 2006  

Weird.

I'll look for him and let you know when he's back here at the UO.

By  Rachel, at 2:18 PM, March 07, 2006  

For my first couple years in Eugene, I swore I would steal his "Free God News" sign. Then I realized that he was just standing there, waiting for people to talk to him... and how cool that was. I still feel bad for wanting to steal his sign way back then.

By  Cory P, at 12:21 AM, March 08, 2006  

whoa! crazy! that has to be fortuitous in a good way; that guy is the least-offensive and best-intentioned of all the UO characters. now that hatoon's dead i mean.

By  rebecca, at 4:50 PM, March 08, 2006  

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