Wow! All I can say is WOW! God is totally amazing. In my humble pursuit to begin meeting and befriending those in our homeless community as God has called me to I have learned a few things that I’d like to pass along.
They are real people.
It’s totally amazing. So many times we pass right by a homeless person and try to pretend they aren’t really there. I’ve been guilty of seeing a homeless person and making sure to avoid eye contact at all cost. I figured if I didn’t see them see me then everything was fine, I wouldn’t have to stop. This kept them from becoming “real” to me. Stepping out of my box and actually going up to one man helped me learn this next very interesting point.
They know when we are avoiding them.
While sitting down at a table having breakfast with one homeless man I’ve met it was very interesting to see from his perspective how many people avoided him. At least 5 times while were eating together people who know me, who speak to me every single time they see me, only managed to make a small gesture my way simply because of who I was sitting with. I saw the look of his face as he saw each one of these people do their best to avoid having to talk to me because I was sitting there talking to him. WOW…did that ever open my eyes.
Funny thing is I saw myself in those people walking by. I realized that for years I have done the exact same thing. I realized that I didn’t have any problem greeting the server in the drive through window at McDonald’s with a big “hello”, “have a great day”, or “God bless you” but very seldom, if ever, would I greet someone in our homeless community in that way. I had to apologize to God that day for not feeling as though the homeless “deserved” my time and attention.
As I sat there that morning, getting to know my new friend I learned the next important fact I want to share with you.
They’ve got a story.
Believe it or not, they’ve got a story. They are sons, they were husbands, they have children, they grew up in an orphanage, they have siblings, they played soccer and ran track at their high schools, they had jobs. Every homeless person I’ve meet so far all have a story, and their stories for one reason or another have led them to a life of homelessness.
It’s just like you and me when you think about it. We’ve got a story. The experiences of our past, combined with our families and the choices we’ve made have led us to exactly where we are today.
It’s the same for them. As I’ve met them and begun to learn their stories my first inclination has been to “fix” them. I’m a “fixer”; I don’t like things to be left broken. Maybe some of you are the same way.
So…in an effort to get them “fixed” I’ve tried to reach out and offer solutions. “I can take to you the attorney you need to meet with to get your disability checks figured out.” “I can take you to the clinic so you can pick up your meds.” “I can help find a place for you to stay dry because there’s a really bad rain coming.”
With every offer I’ve made they tend to shrink back into themselves and are not yet ready for me to “fix” them. At first this began to discourage me and then it hit me…the next thing I want to share with you.
It’s not our job to “fix” them.
They don’t want to be fixed. They just want a friend. They’re interested in someone showing up and “knowing” them. I am confident that when they are ready they will ask for the help they need but, it will be in their time and when they know that I’m not there to “fix” them I am there because I’m their friend. So…as I am making new friends, I am learning their needs and behind the scenes figuring out ways to help meet their needs so that when they ask for help I’ll be ready.
As my friendships are growing another thing I’m noticing is…
They are watching.
They are watching to see if I’m “for real”. You know what I mean when I say that. They want to know what it is I want; what’s in it for me; why am I doing this. They are looking to see if I truly am going to be a friend or if just like the last guy that showed up, I’ll give them a hot meal and that’s the last time they’re going to see me. I mean, isn’t that how you’d be? If someone comes around each holiday and drops off a nice hot meal in your lap and says, “Jesus loves you”, then you don’t see them again ‘til next Christmas, how likely are you going to be to trust them or put much stock in what they say?
I want to be the kind of person they can trust. Someone who they know they can depend on. I might not like how they act sometimes or the things they say to my face, but regardless, I’m gonna be there.
It’s interesting to me that God doesn’t always like the things I do or the things I say but, He is always there. God doesn’t always like how I act when I’m in front of Him (which by the way is all the time) but He is always there. Although, I choose to try and handle life on my own sometimes, or I determine that I can handle a certain situation better than God can handle it He is always there for me when I wise up and turn back to Him. God is someone I can trust at all times. I believe that we should be that way too. We should be someone that people can trust at all times.
When I say I am going to do something I better mean it and I better do it. My new friends are watching me and I am determined that instead of seeing me they are going to see Jesus.
Look; in no way do I want to pretend to have all of the answers or to suggest that I have it all together. Nothing could be further from the truth. All I’m saying is that God opened my eyes to an area of reality that I needed to step into. The good news for me is that I did. I was nervous, uncertain, unqualified and uninterested but I stepped in anyway. Now all I can say is WOW! God is totally amazing.
I want to challenge you to listen to what God is telling you to do. Listen to where God is leading you. When you hear Him speaking, listen. When you see Him opening doors, step into them. You will not be sorry!
Make this bold statement with me today…WHERE HE LEADS ME I WILL FOLLOW!!!
