Thinking Like a Homeless Person

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