Before I go into work in the morning, my dad makes a simple joke about not talking to the homeless... His reasoning being that they will only want my money or that they may be dangerous... I just kinda laugh it off and leave. Although I understand why he says it, I can't help but be bothered by his remarks. How is it that someone who I know loves God, can commonly continue with such a "joke."
People, like my father, say they love Jesus and that being a Christian is his or her life. When in all actuality, It seems that Jesus is only a part of the life being led. I mean, don't get me wrong. I have been just as guilty as my father and the people I am surrounded by.
As Gods children, we should be showing love to everyone. We should be not only loving our family and friends but also the lives that we don't know... even the lives of the homeless. Although I do understand my fathers reasoning for not wanting to help these typically sick, unclean, cheating, and lying nomads directly, God does want us to help the less fortunate.
After reading Crazy Love by the pastor Francis Chan I feel a stronger passion about helping the homeless. Like I mentioned before, I see the street beggars daily. I am often asked continually by pesky men who make a claim that they really just need bus fare or that they have a sick relative. No matter the excuse, I find a way of saying, "I'm sorry. no."
However, there is this one man... fair weathered skin, appears to be in the mid thirties, wears eye glasses, & is averagely thin... he chills with only his backpack on the sidewalk across from the square. He has no scribbled cardboard sign that asks for spare change. Although I am sure that people give him money... He has never asked me for anything. I have walked past him for about a month now, he has greeted me everyday with a simple hello and often a slight gesture of a quick wave. For some interesting and strange reason, I find fascination in this man.
Two days ago, I saw him maxin & relaxin... typical... I passed him and went to Starbucks for my morning "Grande, Hazelnut, w/ milk, lite ice, iced-coffee." I then opened up Crazy Love and read where Francis Chan talked about the Lukewarm Christian... which led into Matthew 25:40. "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Not to be to literal, but i would feel ashamed if I found out that beggar had been Jesus that I passed up when I was going to get my morning starbucks.
After an hour of reading, I walked to the Pharmacy and bought a breakfast bar that was full of vitamins. It was the best sparatic snack I could find that was nutritunal. As I walked by, I simply handed it to him... He smiled... and that was that. The next morning I had planned on giving him my Pop Tarts. But I was so hungry. So I went to the Square and ate them in the park. After, as I was walking to work, I passed him and with a kind hearted smile he genuinely thanked me for the box of granola snacks. That "Thank You" meant so much to me. But then I also felt really crappy about being so selfish with those pop tarts....
I haven't figured out how I will get to know this homeless guy (who is also still nameless in my book... ) but I know theres the chance that he doesnt know Jesus. And I know that he's been brought into my life for a reason.
"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins"
James 4:17
People, like my father, say they love Jesus and that being a Christian is his or her life. When in all actuality, It seems that Jesus is only a part of the life being led. I mean, don't get me wrong. I have been just as guilty as my father and the people I am surrounded by.
As Gods children, we should be showing love to everyone. We should be not only loving our family and friends but also the lives that we don't know... even the lives of the homeless. Although I do understand my fathers reasoning for not wanting to help these typically sick, unclean, cheating, and lying nomads directly, God does want us to help the less fortunate.
After reading Crazy Love by the pastor Francis Chan I feel a stronger passion about helping the homeless. Like I mentioned before, I see the street beggars daily. I am often asked continually by pesky men who make a claim that they really just need bus fare or that they have a sick relative. No matter the excuse, I find a way of saying, "I'm sorry. no."
However, there is this one man... fair weathered skin, appears to be in the mid thirties, wears eye glasses, & is averagely thin... he chills with only his backpack on the sidewalk across from the square. He has no scribbled cardboard sign that asks for spare change. Although I am sure that people give him money... He has never asked me for anything. I have walked past him for about a month now, he has greeted me everyday with a simple hello and often a slight gesture of a quick wave. For some interesting and strange reason, I find fascination in this man.
Two days ago, I saw him maxin & relaxin... typical... I passed him and went to Starbucks for my morning "Grande, Hazelnut, w/ milk, lite ice, iced-coffee." I then opened up Crazy Love and read where Francis Chan talked about the Lukewarm Christian... which led into Matthew 25:40. "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Not to be to literal, but i would feel ashamed if I found out that beggar had been Jesus that I passed up when I was going to get my morning starbucks.
After an hour of reading, I walked to the Pharmacy and bought a breakfast bar that was full of vitamins. It was the best sparatic snack I could find that was nutritunal. As I walked by, I simply handed it to him... He smiled... and that was that. The next morning I had planned on giving him my Pop Tarts. But I was so hungry. So I went to the Square and ate them in the park. After, as I was walking to work, I passed him and with a kind hearted smile he genuinely thanked me for the box of granola snacks. That "Thank You" meant so much to me. But then I also felt really crappy about being so selfish with those pop tarts....
I haven't figured out how I will get to know this homeless guy (who is also still nameless in my book... ) but I know theres the chance that he doesnt know Jesus. And I know that he's been brought into my life for a reason.
"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins"
James 4:17
