I choose to love

Look!  Wait, don't look.  I can't help it I have to look, but I don't want them to see me looking.  I'll keep my sunglasses on and just move my eyes, not my head. That way they won't know I'm looking.  Sound familiar or am I the only one? We've all seen them. Homeless, street dwellers, pan-handlers, beggars, whatever you choose to call them.  I don't like putting a "name" on them, but my point is, whether it's a pan-handler at the intersection of a major shopping center, a man sleeping on a park bench or someone whose clothes and shoes may look a little worn, we tend to look the other way.

I'm not looking the other way anymore. Every Monday night I go looking for them. There are usually 3-5 of us that fill a backpack full of food, socks, hygiene products, etc. and walk the streets of downtown Ft. Wayne.  

Instead of avoiding eye contact I now look them straight in the eyes and I listen.  I listen to their stories. I listen to their needs. I hear what they have to say and I care. I really care! I talk with them, smile with them, laugh with them and if they want I pray with them and I hug them. Some of them call us the "church people," but they know we're not there to Bible thump them. We're not there to judge them, look down on them, try to change them, save them or preach to them.  We're there because we want them to know we care. We're there because we want to be there! We're there because we choose not to look the other way.  We're there to let them know they're not forgotten.  We're there because they are human just like we are and get this...we were ALL made in God's image! Yep, that means you, me, the street dwellers, the neighbor next door that you don't like...errr, ummm, hmmm, maybe that last part is just me. 

My first night out we were at the park where several of them were being served dinner by another ministry and a storm came in. Quick! We knew it was coming, but thought we would be done by the time it hit.  No such luck!  The wind kicked up, it started thundering and lightening. Unfortunately we had to cut it short that night. We made it back to our cars right before it started pouring down rain. Can you guess what I did on the way home?  I cried ! Haha, imagine that.  None of them walked out of the park as quick as we did.  Why would they? Most of them have nowhere to go.  Sure they can seek shelter under a bridge or a tree or in a doorway, but they can't get away from the wind, the noise, the temperature changes and quite possibly they are still going to get wet. Even if they don't get wet, their bedding that they have hidden somewhere more than likely will be soaked.  I had a car to run to and a house to drive home too. I'm blessed. I'm fortunate. 

Several times when I go out, other than the usual snacks and canned meat, I put together 3 or 4 goodie bags. It's just a bag of snacks, a water and a flavor pack. The night of the storm I had one left before we scurried out of there. I saw one guy that I knew was living on the streets so I walked over to give it to him.  Even though the storm was coming he was still sitting in the grass, eating his dinner, quite content.  I said his name and handed him the bag.  He raised his eyes and just looked at me.  He looked at me like he couldn't figure out why I was giving that to him. He looked confused, but grateful. That look he gave me, that look in his eyes, made my night! 

I won't look away. I'll know their name. They'll know my face. I'll ask what they need that I can bring the following week. I won't judge. I won't ignore. I'll build trust. I'll choose to love because He first loved me. I choose to love and I choose to love out LOUD!! 

Have a great week...Be YOUtiful and you guessed it...Love out LOUD!! :) 

John 13:34-35 (NLT)

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”