So it has taken me a about three weeks but I finally know the name of the nomadic sidewalk dweller who I have been greeting in the morning. Strangely enough, his name is Pup. After telling me his name, I called him Pap. He barked back quickly, informing me it was "Pup, like the dog." He never asked me for my name...
Previously, One early morning it was raining and quite chilly, I was on my way to work. I said hello as I walked past him. The next thing I knew, I was carrying him hot coffee and an apple while trying to grasp firmly on my umbrella. He didn't say thank you but I know he was happy for that warm coffee... maybe not the apple.
The very next morning I saw a woman standing by him (also homeless). As I got closer, they became quite. Me and Pup shared morning greetings as I briskly walked by. I could tell by her look that he must have mentioned I had fed him/helped him out...whatever it is that I did. So now its been a few weeks, and this morning I walked passed her. She was standing in between buildings just chilling. As I began to walk by, I caught her glow. She shared a hello with me. I can't describe it but I instantly knew who she was and I think its cool how she knew who I was... After only seeing me a brief second before and that seems like forever ago.
Hebrews 13:2- God says to take care of strangers, for we could be entertaining angels without knowing it.
There are so many people out there less fortunate... and I am tired of living this simple life that is so comfortable and yet those around me (including me) don't even realize how truly freaking awesome we have it. We find petty things to complain about. I can't really make up my mind on how I feel about it... Is it okay that I have these nice things?? Is it okay that I spend hundreds of dollars for materialistic things. Hypothetically, The hundreds of dollars I'd spend on a new tv would buy hundreds of shoes for kids who live in shack towns. I think I realize what I would enjoy more. It's just the matter of doing it. And thats what I need to be focused on. That is what I need to do.
-Look what Blake Mycoskie did. He has now made a huge impact on the world. His line of "Toms" are now on the feet of many children all over the world. And he did it with the love of others around him. With his catchy marketing promise of "buy a pair of Toms and We'll buy a pair for a child less fortunate."
Everyone wants to be loved. And I believe everyone wants to love others. But its almost like we dont know how... We become to frustrated with our selfishness and become blind to what we dont want to see.
I know this sounds crazy but really, if we all showed love for each other think about what kind of world we could be living in. That my friend, is what I consider Crazy Love. <3
I think organizational work is great. But it shouldnt be the only way of helping others. Like the author Shane Claiborne pointed out in his book, "Irrestible Revoultion." "Jesus never set up a program for helping others... He modeled a way of living that incarnated the reign of God, -The reign did not spread through organizational establishments. Instead, it spread like disease. -through touch, through breath, through life."
So when we finally see Jesus Christ himself... do you really think he's going to say,
"hey thanks. For when I was hungry, you gave a check to United Way and they fed me."
"When I was naked, you donated clothess to the Salvation Army and they clothed me."
Shane Claiborne points out that Jesus isn't seeking distant acts of charity. He seeks concrete acts of love.
