“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil." -- Luke 6:27-35
Last night I had the privelege of joining some members of my church at one our local homeless shelters. We held a short session of praise and worship, followed by a lesson prepared by one of our men. I was moved.
I've visited a few homeless shelters before, whether it was volunteering, dropping things off, driving by. Some are decently maintained facilities, others are just scraping through building standard inspections. I didn't know what to expect last night; I hadn't been to this one yet.
The building is a neat, well-kept structure nestled behind a fire department. I was greeted by a large "community" living space. There were a few people eating at the tables, a father and his toddler daughter watching a cartoon on the TV in the toy area, another father and his two small sons, a young guy rolling cigarettes on a lunch tray, and a few people seated on the rubber two-seaters arranged like a set of miniature church pews. I scanned the room; for some reason it hit me that if I saw any of the people in that room on the sidewalk, I wouldn't be able to peg that they were living in a homeless shelter...... I was disappointed that I had fallen to the stigma associated with shelters and the people inhabiting them. I know that all shelters are not as neatly organized, and I thought, "Would I still be here if this were sheerly nothing but a roof and four walls in an inner city? Would I still care enough if the people hadn't showered? If they were disabled? Would I be comfortable enough to drive here, park here, walk in the door?"
How dare I.
Seriously.
"If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered." - Prov. 21:13
There was a guy there, a 20-something. We sat for a bit after the study was over and I listened to him as he shared his Bible version preference with me. Do you know the origins of the NIV? He did. I checked. He's right. He's done his homework. He knows his Bible. He knows why He trusts in it. His testimony moved me. There was a woman, slightly older. She had years of hardship on her face written on her face, but her eyes told a completely separate story. She'd trusted God to deliver her and He had. She'd never heard the song "Temporary Home" (Carrie Underwood) before last night; she was in tears.
Our lives are nothing but just a flash in the the grand schema of time.
We're supposed to savor that brief moment and put it to good use.
A quote I LOVE:
"I have a three-step process:
1: Wake up. 2: Ask God where He'll be that day. 3: Join Him." -- anon.
I don't ever want to forget how I felt last night. Humbled. Grateful, yet mindful for and of the slew of material that sometimes overcasts the important stuff in my life. Saved by grace. Blessed by mercy. Empowered with truth. Responsible for sharing it.
xoxo.
.: CMD
