The Face of the Homeless

When he was young, his heart for justice was sometimes a little more in self interest, though he noticed if others were not treated fairly as well. But as a teen and young adult, his heart was pulled more and more to the injustices in the world that cause some to be trampled by those who trample. And he noticed that some injustices just existed… like why is one person born to a family of means and comfort and another to a mother squatting in a mud hut with little or no food. He had a giving heart that said, “If you need a ride and I have a car, God put us together for such a time as this.” He wasn’t satisfied sending money to help the needy, though he did that as well. He needed to be part of taking hope to the hopeless and extending a hand to those who had fallen or been knocked down.

As I watched him grow and mature and roll ideas around, I was forced to revisit questions I too had asked when I was younger and more idealistic – before I became so busy taking care of my own family. Long conversations late at night shed God’s wisdom and light on the plights of many in this world. It was simple. God said to go, to love, to forgive, to encourage and “spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry” (Isaiah 58:10). I don’t remember ever specifically reading this passage or talking about it, but he lived it as though it was a part of his DNA.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, [I can’t count how many times he challenged my thinking – my assumptions that showed lack of knowledge or understanding] and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, [he didn’t just talk about it – he went and found people already there ministering to the poor and needy and rolled up his sleeves and joined them – regularly – not just for a one-time experience to say he did it] then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. [In his passing, others have taken notice – both of what he did and those he served] The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. [He always had enough – enough time, enough energy, enough love to share.] Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” [Those of us who love him have caught his vision and passion and are working to repair and restore the broken lives of those who have been passed over and forgotten in this world.] Isaiah 58:9-12

In honor of Andrew’s birthday and his life, we went to the city to help feed homeless people. Andrew had told us that if you go, the people will have faces and names and you will find that they aren’t just ‘the homeless,’ but they are real individual people with real needs that Christ calls us to respond to. As we arrived, we were amazed at how many people were there waiting for a hot meal. Those who had regularly been coming with the Isaiah 61 Ministry quickly jumped into action pulling out containers, serving tables, wiping down, setting up and soon we were handing plates of steaming hot food and cups of hot soup with cookies for dessert and coffee if they wanted it. A bag with sandwiches was also given to them for later. The stale scent of cigarette smoke and unwashed bodies lingered in the air burning my nose and throat. As the rain gently fell and the night air cooled to an uncomfortable 50 degrees, they huddled in small groups with comfortable conversations – all that is except for the inebriated couple who wanted a fight. They were escorted away so the others could eat and converse in peace. The leader of the ministry prayed before the meal and offered anyone who wanted to come and talk if they had needs or wanted someone to pray with them. He offered them a ride to church on Sunday if they wanted to come. After the meal was cleaned up and the tables taken down and put back in the van, we had opportunity to have conversations with the people there. Some of them had already curled up in their blankets on the cement walkway under the carport roof at the courthouse. Their night would be short as they would have to get up and out before people started coming to work in the morning. We then proceeded to a second stop where we gave out meals we had dished into containers previously. It was under a high overpass and the rain was blowing in. But the spirits of the homeless men there were high and they enjoyed the fellowship for a while before taking their food and going to their ‘living space’.

On the ride back, we had opportunity to ask many questions and begin to understand the ministry that had grown from a young couple who had hearts that loved and cared about those less fortunate than themselves. They have a vision much bigger than what they are doing. But that vision requires others to come on board and help finance it. They want to buy a building in the city and make it into a shelter for those who need it and want to get off the street. They want to provide services to help them get back into jobs, into apartments, and/or get the medical attention they need. They want to share Jesus’ love with them first by meeting their very real needs and then by introducing them to the One who died to save them from their sins. We were amazed at what they are already doing – going down twice a week with hot food, extra clothing and blankets, and spending themselves on the needs of those who ask for help.

Now the hard part comes. What am I going to do with this experience? Will I pat myself on the back and say, “Good job! You went one evening and served the homeless. God is pleased with you. Now you can get on with your life.”? Or will I plan to return once in a while or even on a regular basis? Or is God asking me to spend myself on helping get supplies, raising funds for the purchase of a building and to support a family who have given themselves to care for those in need? One thing is for sure… I cannot pretend I did not go and see for myself what it is like to be without a home, without shelter, regular food and a few changes of clothes. I cannot live in my ‘castle in the woods’ and not give another thought to those in need.

Thank you, Andrew, for the challenge to go, to see, to experience, so that we won’t forget those who God has asked us to serve. Thank you Lord, for our precious son who followed your precious Son who, by his life has taught us your tender heart for those who are hungry and in need.

Being Faithful

The book of Ezekiel is full of judgment on the Jewish people because of their unfaithfulness to God. They either ignored the Covenant with God all together, or they gave it lip service, but worshiped other gods and idols. It is hard for me to read the book of Ezekiel because it is so full of all the bad things that are going to happen to the people because of their unfaithfulness. I don’t like reading about judgment or even thinking about it too much. Yet, Ezekiel was given this message from God. He says over and over, “The word of the Lord came to me…” While much of this is aimed directly at the Jewish people as they were about to be destroyed, there are things we can learn about God from reading about their experience.

“I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 15:8 I would rather read about the blessings of the Lord for being faithful. But here it is… what happens when we are unfaithful. While this was a very physical reality for the people, I wonder if there are spiritual implications for us even now.

As I tear this apart and meditate about it, I find I need to define what ‘land’ means in spiritual terms. I believe it could apply to my relationship with God and with others – my sphere of influence. If I am unfaithful, my relationship with God and with others will be empty – without meaning, or even non-existent.

Then I think about ‘desolate’. I believe it could mean without hope. When I am unfaithful to God, I find myself in a place without hope. My spirit within me becomes dry and unyielding. My relationship with God is strained and I don’t care so much about other people.

But the word ‘unfaithful’ seems to be at the core of my meditation. I wonder, what does it mean to be unfaithful? Can I be unfaithful in some things and faithful in others? If I’m just unfaithful once in a while, does that count? Is it possible to be faithful 100 percent?

A word I associate with faithful is ‘committed’. In a relationship, if we are faithful, we are committed to the other person – to their well being as well as ours. I wonder, where does my relationship with God stand in terms of commitment? Am I half-heartedly engaged or am I fully engaged in this relationship? What does it mean to be fully committed in a relationship? Can anything grow in my garden and orchard if I am only partially committed – tending it when it suits me? Maybe some things will sort of grow, but they certainly won’t flourish. In the same way, I believe that if I want to see ‘fruit’ in my spiritual life, I need to be fully committed to tending my garden and orchard – my relationship with God.

Our son Andrew said it this way in one of his journals. “Jesus isn’t a fair weather friend. Why should we be? I wonder how many people have tried to apply W.W.J.D. [What would Jesus do?] to their own faith, not just how they live with the world. I think I’ll give it a try, though I hear Yoda in the back of my head saying, ‘There is no try. Do or do not.’ Wise words despite the fact that it came from a 3-foot-tall, 900-year-old alien who doesn’t exist.” He was saying that either we are fully committed or we are not. If we are not fully committed, we are not likely to succeed.

When we are fully committed and faithful to our relationship with the Lord, we will flourish – “He is like a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalm 1:3

Lord, I choose to keep my eyes on you – to serve you with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. I do not want to become desolate because of unfaithfulness, but rather, I want to keep my roots deep in your soil, watered by your streams of living water, yielding fruit in season and providing shade for weary travelers. Thank you for your generous provision for me. Help me to not waste it, but to use it well for you. Amen.