For a few reasons ... homelessness is on my mind.
First, I'm reading What Difference Do it Make? by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. Moore was homeless for a portion of his life. His writing is priceless and convicting. (come back on the 6th for Winning Wednesday and you could win a copy!)
Also, my husband Jerry and I meet weekly with a group of friends to laugh, eat and study the Bible. Tomorrow night, the group is cooking for a homeless shelter in our local city.
I care about people. It makes me sad when I think of someone hungry and not having a home to live in. I help others, mostly from a distance. I give money and write a quarterly newsletter for a children's home in Africa.
And when I think of the homeless in the city 10 miles from my house. I think we (and by 'we' I really mean someone other than me) should do something to help. Sad to say, my thoughts are probably closer to this quote by Lingle, governor of Hawaii, than I care to admit.
And when I think of the homeless in the city 10 miles from my house. I think we (and by 'we' I really mean someone other than me) should do something to help. Sad to say, my thoughts are probably closer to this quote by Lingle, governor of Hawaii, than I care to admit.
We have come dangerously close to accepting the homeless situation as a problem that we just can't solve.
- Linda LingleSo, if the problem can't be solved, why even try? I mean, how can I, one person, make a difference? Plus, I don't know how to connect with homeless people. What do I say? How can I help? Blah, blah, blah ...
Then I read this ...
People who are homeless are not social inadequates. They are people without homes. - Sheila McKechnie
So that means my earlier questions aren't even valid because they are people just like me ... hmmm
Its soo sad that I need to have this conversation with myself...
Pray for me tomorrow - pray I can mix some love into my large pot of chicken noodle soup (using the best PA dutch recipe I have!) while gaining some awareness and understanding about "loving others as I love myself."
I need help - do you help people without homes? If so, what do you do?
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6 comments:
Hi Janet! I know you have no clue who I am, but I love this post and topic. I HAD to chime in :)
More than anything you could ever momentarily give, a genuine conversation and hug is worth more than a cup of soup. Sometimes the desire to be a respected human trumps a meal.
Keeping loving like Jesus! This is beautiful.
Here are my 2 cents. I LOVE what you are doing. This is my rebellious side, coming out and questioning the way things are done and how they can be changed.
For example you ask how can one person make a difference?
There are millions of examples to interact with the homeless to determine their needs and discover what they truly want. I for example spoke to 30 homeless people and determined their need for a physical address was common. Enough so that the demand among homeless as driven us to start a business to fill the void. We employ a few homeless to give them a living wage. You can read up about it on our fan page on facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Restartt/248733435660?v=app_2373072738
Perhaps try to remember "they" are "us" only with no home and possibly very little hope ...
One of the things the early church did was to take care of widows and orphans. Whata re the homeless except a different kind of orphan, no different from others who need the love of Christ demonstrated?
Janet - You may want to check out Shane Claiborne's "The Irresistible Revolution." Warning - It will make you want to sell all your stuff and live with the poor!
@Bianca. Hi! Actually, I know you :) I read your blog frequently, but I guess I've been a lurker, sorry - I haven't said Hello before. But "Hi!"
Thanks for the reminder that a convo and hug has amazing value. I will remember that Monday night as we serve dinner.
@Pepijn Thanks for your thoughts and the reminder that one person can make a difference. Will check out Restartt.
@S. Etole ... Thank you! Thank you! A good reminder that hope is what they (and all of us) need.
@Glynn ... very true. Thank you for the reminder.
@Rachel ... do I dare? I've read some of Shane's writings and I'm scared to read more :)
So the question is ... what am I scared of?
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