Hello world!
I've missed sharing with you. Life has given its twists and turns, but I wouldn't wish a single one gone. I will share some of those with you soon, but first I wanted to share something that was recently on my heart.
They're all across our cities and at every intersection. You try not to read their cardboard signs asking for help, try not to meet their eyes and see the defeat there. You smile if you do and continue on your way home in your air-conditioned car, a Tervis tumbler in the cupholder and leftovers from lunch in the seat beside you, supper in the crockpot at home. I know I am guilty of doing this too often. More often than not I see some poor soul asking for help and just drive past not giving them a second glance. I don't often acknowledge they are there, using anything as an excuse not to. There's too much traffic behind me, I don't have any cash that is convenient to give, nobody would want a half-eaten cookie or opened box of raisins. Too often I have passed them knowing I have something to give but using any excuse I can think of not to, especially when it comes to sharing my food. I tell myself that's my food! I'm starving! This is expensive food and I don't get it very often! I'm saving that to take for my lunch tomorrow! I was especially bad about using that excuse when I was working fast food and not eating until mid-afternoon after a long shift.
But, my conscience usually kicks in about that time and says I should have given them my fries even if they're not the freshest, or my half of a cookie that I was saving for dessert later, or that apple that I was eyeing all day long and didn't get a chance to eat. It would have been more than they started out with. I can always find something else to eat at home, but they have no such luxury. I can stand to miss a few frivolous snacks as I know I will be able to get more food later. But who knows how long it has been since they have had so much as a small apple, not to mention a full meal? All it would take out of my day is a few seconds to roll down my window, give them a dollar or an apple and let them know there is someone who cares about them. Jesus asked us to care for the least of these, and said if we care for those less fortunate we are in effect taking care of Him. I can't help but be reminded of the song "Angels Among Us". I do believe there are angels living in our midst; we just don't see them for who they are. Hebrews 13:2 says "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels." (NKJV)What blessings do we miss out on when we forsake those asking for help on a cardboard sign wearing their whole world on their back, if anything at all?
Society has made it difficult for those who genuinely need help to get it. I know for me it was practically drilled into my head that not all asking for help are honest, that they'll use whatever money they swindle off good-hearted people to buy booze and tobacco and all sorts of questionable goods. That may be true for some, but not all who appear desperate have bad intentions. Nonetheless, no matter their situation, all deserve to know someone truly cares, that not all hope is lost. For most, yours may be the only smile they see, the only help they get that day. Sometimes all a person needs is a smile and a helping hand to take care of a small need to see even a glimmer of light, and that glimmer is enough to leave them looking for the source.
Recently, I was sitting in a long line on my way home from work. There was a young man holding a sign that said "Hungry Please Help." I personally don't like giving cash but I do keep leftover food that just didn't get eaten at lunch in the car. There was a delicious apple in my bag (remember what I said earlier about excuses? This was one apple I would make an excuse for), but the bag was out of my reach. When it came my turn to make my way through the intersection I just drove right on past him without a second glance. The apple stayed in my bag and my conscience face palmed if that is possible. A few days passed and I had that same apple in my bag (don't judge, apples aren't the easiest to eat without making a mess... or is that just me?). The same man was holding his sign, wearing the same backpack and clothes as before. This time my lunch bag was within reach and my inner voice was impossible to ignore. By the time I rolled up to where he was standing, I had my window rolled down and the apple extended to him. He took it and told me to have a blessed day, and I drove on home. I thought I would miss that apple. After all, it was a honeycrisp apple, one of the best varieties and expensive and a treat to have. But you know what? I didn't miss it one bit. I'm glad I gave him that apple. I felt light and happy the whole way home.
