a mite ..

homelessness is a disease

we're not sure how it's contracted, but we do know that it is debilitating, it spreads within the person to affect their emotions and their psyche, their sense of self esteem, and that the lifespan is shorter than for others

children and the elderly are at greatest risk

sick

I'm sick

i'm not without shelter, although i do live in humble circumstance

but i have empathetically contracted the disease

   or should i say, i'm trying to

i want to be sick

i've tried to think my way through a-day-in-the-life-of a homeless person ( a male: don't think i could imagine what it would be like for a woman ) , and although i think i'm aware of some things, i know i'm either not in those things deep enough, or i'm missing a bunch of stuff, or both

prolly both

.. . . .. .. ..... .

today there were 2 young people hanging around, in their early-twenties

they have been around for 2 weeks now

heard about us on the street the first day they came to town

the guy was crying

when i asked him about it he said that they were needing to get some stuff done, look for work, etc., but the shopping cart they kept their stuff in was holding them back

they needed somewhere to put their stuff, but storage rates had doubled, it being tourist season, and they couldn't afford it

and he was at a loss as to what to do - they weren't getting anywhere

my heart was struck

again

... . . . .     .

here's how that played out

i first called a few friends in town who've been here a lot longer than i 

passed the word around: do you know how we can help these people ?

we couldn't do it here, where we minister, because there is push-back from the neighbourhood, and we're trying our best to be neighbourly, which, in Jesus' terms = love

enemy ? love 'em

texts went back and forth, as did one email i saw

then i spoke to a lady that volunteers for the early-morning hangout we have where people can come in off the streets at 4 a.m. and have breakfast, hang out in peace, or sleep

she's cool

immediately she said this: i have storage and i'm not using all the space and they can use it .. 

got that ?

i stood in veritable disbelief 

this woman who doesn't have much immediately offered what she had - no questions asked 

then a little later a friend, who'd discussed this with me, left me a voicemail saying to be sure to hug that couple and let them know God loves them and that she's praying for them

. ..    . ..

yes, i'm lost for the most part

yes, i'm limited 

yes, i'm fighting a fight in which my strength is far insufficient, my resources few ..

sound like anyone you know ?

how about the widow that gave the mite, that almost worthless coin, because it was all she had to give, and was blessed ?

how about those fishermen that Jesus called to go with him ?

how about that pained woman who just knew that if she managed to but touch a part of Jesus' robe she would be healed

and was ?

.. ..       .

i don't have much

neither did my friend that offered her space

neither do the people i contacted, some of them homeless

neither did the friend that left the prayerful voicemail

but together we have

even if it's still not much to shout about

it's a lot to shout about

because this isn't the first time by a long shot

there are people who are slowly turning, like some old schooner on a boisterous sea,

but they're turning

and for each one i give thanks

i praise that same God who manifested his very person as a homeless man travelling Galilee and its surrounds, and who made a difference

a massive difference that speaks today, and will tomorrow, God helping me

it ain't much

but know what ? to them it's huge

and i get that

it's huge

and maybe their burden is somewhat lighter, and my friend will not have to cry tomorrow for him and for his girl he looks to care for

maybe

many thanks

praise to you, master

something's working right ..

shalom