Kevin’s Thoughts:
Sometimes I grow tired and overwhelmed with tasks of supporting and helping our sheltered and homeless community – it seems like, no matter how much we get done, there is always a never ending list of tasks to do – its times like this that the same sheltered and homeless community indirectly lift me up – it might be their smile, a hug, a genuine hand shake, or real tears of appreciation – and that’s all I need to get back up and press on.
Just a note today about three men who are still struggling, but continue to claw their way back to (what we would call) a normal life with the security of home, food, employment, and effective support systems – these men have all been homeless, sheltered, and lived in compromised conditions most of their lives – most of us cannot begin to understand the very challenged path they’ve lived with – I feel sure, most of us would be no better off if we had to endure the same or similar path – but they have not given up on themselves or the world around them.
These men get in the truck with us three or four days a week and take on the many tasks and efforts needed to help others continue on their own path out of sheltered and homelessness – they help collect and distribute food, clothes, furniture, water, and resources – they work on cars, repair tent camps, and help individuals and families move from site to site – they help local social workers move families into homes – they pray for and pray with those in need – they do this each week while still addressing and fighting their own personal struggles and demons.
It is not a paid position, but occasionally they’ll get paid for work we stumble on in the course of our efforts – I believe they do it because there is good in them, and they can see the good in others – I believe they do it to feel human again, in a world that largely does not see them as human – I believe they do it to bring balance to their lives that are weighted down with hurt, pain, and suffering – I know two of them do it because they love the Lord and have a desire to make amends with a world they feel responsible for damaging – I know one of those men has more accumulated time in prison and jail than we have accumulated time in churches and places of worship – but I am certain that his faith is stronger than ours.
Please pray for these men, and know they are praying for us – their prayer is that the communities of Believers and the countless groups of ‘the lest of these’ can combine efforts, join hands, and lean into each other with the fire, life and breath of the Great Commission, the Great Commandment, and the Beatitudes to turn the growing tide of sheltered and homelessness.
To be honest, its not always a ‘Disney movie with happy endings’ out there – there are many challenging and dark moments with harsh deep emotional and physical scars – the heavy weight of financial or family crisis, mental illness, addiction, neglect, and abuse are not easily or quickly resolved – it takes prayer, relationships, consistent reliable time, hard conversations, encouragement, heartfelt hugs, a hand up, and yes… handouts laced with grace and love – it takes sacrifice on everyone’s part – it takes eye contact, handshakes, smiles, and sitting down with someone instead of passing them by – it takes hard work – hard work that reaches beyond the safety and security of our cars, couches, churches, and homes.
All communities are faced with this challenge – all communities have shelters, services, churches, and organizations to help the sheltered and homeless – consider reaching to them – consider getting involved – consider helping…
Kevin's Thoughts 