What do you think of when you look at these pictures? Maybe your thoughts turn to the possibility
of skiing or snowboarding in the near future.
Or maybe you think about the incredible beauty of the full moon on a clear night. Or maybe you are looking forward to a cozy day home from work or school.
But what do homeless people think of when they see scenes
like these? It’s most likely that their
thoughts are not the same as yours or mine – because these pictures all
represent a reality that we have
never experienced. For the homeless
person, these pictures represent another nearly unbearable season living outside in the bitter elements.
It’s been colder than average this month where I live, so
I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately.
There is so much that we take for granted, but God has been prompting me
recently to be more aware of people outside my normal circle. Maybe it’s because I’ve been helping out for
the past few months with our church’s involvement with other area churches in
providing a weekly meal and basic supplies for the homeless in my city. Perhaps for the first time in my life there
are real faces that I see regularly
to remind me of how difficult life is for some.
Christmas is a time of year when many people do special
things for others and contribute to the needs of those less fortunate. But God always cares about the poor (Psalm 140:12), and he expects his
people to do the same. The first time I
helped serve lunch to the homeless was in the summer and was one of the hottest
days of the year. Those who came were so
grateful to spend a few minutes out of the heat and to use regular bathroom
facilities and splash some cool water on their faces. Whether the weather is too hot or too cold, there is rarely, if ever, a time when
sleeping outdoors and having no home are positive things.
Here’s what God has been reminding me of lately as I go
about my daily routine: I have heat in my home and my car (as well as air
conditioning); I have hot running water; I have an electric blanket; I have a
heated throw for the living room; I have two fireplaces; I have several coats
and jackets, several scarves, three pairs of gloves, and many sweaters and warm
socks. Obviously, the list could go on;
but you get the point. Caring about others begins with a thankful
heart for the blessings I have been given.
Jesus taught that we will always have the poor (John 12:8) and that it is our
responsibility to show our love for God by taking care of the poor around us (Matthew 25:35-45). When we care for “the least of these”, we are
seeing them through God’s eyes and conveying a part of God’s grace to them. Regardless of their poverty or other issues, homeless people were created in the image
of God and are dearly loved by him.
The challenge for each of us is to find ways to care for the
poor and homeless throughout the year – not just at Christmas. God’s love for people is not influenced by
manmade holidays, and neither should our love for others. True caring
means looking outside of our own world and seeing people as God sees them. It means having a thankful heart for the blessings we have and looking for ways we
can bless others who are less fortunate.
Christmas is a good time to start, but homeless people will still be too
cold in February and too warm in August.
Let’s choose not to forget about
them when our warm and cozy holiday is over.
“Religion
that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after
orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by
the world.”
James 1:27
