In case you haven't guessed it I'm talking about our homeless citizens. I live in a suburb of Chicago that does not have much of a homeless population. We have a very giving community that stocks our food pantry throughout the year and our township stays on top of all the programs that people who are under resourced can apply to.
Funny. Even the words, "Under resourced" are used instead of the word "poor."
Across much of northern America the blustery arctic air that we've been happily not experiencing arrived with a one two punch Sunday night.
Here's what I wrote as my Facebook status today:
"Living in the Chicagoland Suburbs, my heart is always troubled for the homeless who cannot get into shelters or get meals. Those of us in our comforts have no clue what our brothers and sisters, saved or unsaved, do in order to survive each day. With our below zero wind chills last night, I found myself asking God to somehow keep those who were exposed to the elements warm. It's such a powerless feeling knowing there's little I can do to help. But when I think of how God tended to Elijah's needs through his angels, Jesus' needs through his angels and the Israelites' needs through manna and quail, I know he will supply their needs. And maybe, just maybe, one by one, they will hear the gospel message and receive Jesus as their Savior!! That kind of warmth in their spirit will always be with them."
In my younger days, I would walk downtown Chicago with books of $5 McDonald Gift Certificates. That's when five dollars could buy you a lot. I would wait and discern who to give them to. To this day I remember a woman I named Mary. Mary was sitting on the cold cement with her body bent over in the corner of a train depot. She was wearing a black coat, black hat and she had one knee pulled up to her chest. Her bag of belongings was next to her left arm. I tried to get her attention but she never moved. Instead of trying again, I placed the gift certificates as close as I could to her so that she could reach them and nobody else could steal them. I've prayed for her each time she comes to mind - that God would draw her close to Him and she would find Jesus and have a life that is safe and whole.
Another encounter involved being with a friend of mine. The only thing I can remember is being in Chicago at an apartment building. There was a man sitting outside the building with a cup asking for money. I had an amount in my pocket that I thought was too much to put in the cup so I walked past him to my car. That's when God did the tap tap on my shoulder. He reminded me whose money it was. I walked back to the man, put the money in the cup and said it was from his Heavenly Father. As I turned and walked away, I could hear the guy get excited. Truth be told, I, too, had a big smile on my face.
God wants us to care for the poor and tells us the poor will always be among us. There are so many ways you can help. Get connected to your church's outreach programs or find out how to serve in your local community.
There's nothing like giving a helping hand to someone who cannot give it back. It's humbling. It's honoring. It's Jesus with hands and feet.
