What difference do it make??

I just finished reading a book called What Difference Do it Make?, a follow-up book to Same Kind of Different As Me, by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. These men came from completely different walks of life yet came together and continue to make a difference in the homeless communities across the country. It really opened my eyes to some of the issues surrounding the homeless.

Growing up in a suburb, I rarely encountered homeless people on the streets. Sure, I volunteered at homeless shelters through my church youth group and through my high school, but that was the only time I ever really saw them.

I began to see more of the homeless when I went to college in downtown Nashville, and now, living in the 4th largest city in the U.S., I'm lucky if I don't see a homeless person in a single day.

My heart has always been troubled when seeing these folks on the streets. Many will walk up to you and ask for money. Some stand at busy intersections with signs made from cardboard boxes or with an empty McDonald's cup. Some even carry a bucket of water and a squeegee and wash your windows while you are waiting at the light, in hopes that you will pay them for their service.

My initial gut reaction when I see these people is fear. Here is a dirty, smelly, perhaps mentally impaired person looking in my window and holding his cup towards me asking for change. I avoid eye contact. I roll up my windows. I ignore them. I don't even crack a smile. I pray for the light to turn green quickly. And then as I drive away (or walk away), I feel pangs of guilt. God has blessed me with financial security, a home, food, family, friends... couldn't I have spared a dollar? Or even a smile? Jesus commands us to help those in need, no matter if they are dirty or malicious.

But, you ask, What if you give a homeless person 5 bucks, and then he goes and buys cigarettes or alcohol with it and then gets thrown in jail? The answer is that it is not our place to judge how this person uses your gift to them. You are blessing this person, and what he does with what you give him is up to him. The idea is that we are called to help those in need; what happens after that is up to God. We certainly cannot "fix" the situation of a homeless person when we toss change into his cup. But a simple act of smiling, saying hello, and showing love to someone is our duty as Christians.

Another thing that I was reminded of in this book is that we should never be quick to judge. Not every homeless person is crazy. Not every homeless person is a lazy bum. Not every homeless person is an addict. Some, for instance, are just down on their luck. Maybe, like Denver Moore, their upbringings put them in their position- without even an elementary school education, how can an adult find his place in society? Who will accept him, offer him a job, or even respect him? When we look to help the homeless, we should look past what we see on the surface. We don't know their life histories. Let God do the judging.

Like any other person, the homeless are looking for acceptance, for recognition, for a second chance. Whether they got themselves into this position or not, they are God's children too, and they deserve to be treated as our brothers and sisters. So the next time you give a homeless person some change or a burger, don't question what they are going to do next. Give freely and let God take care of the rest. You never know what difference it could make.

I haven't yet read the first book (Same Kind of Different as Me), but I have it on hold at the library. I would highly recommend the second book, What Difference do it Make, if you are interested in reading more about this topic. It's a quick read, and I wager that it will stir your heart.

January Wrap-up

January went by in a flash-- It was certainly a great way to start 2009.

Since transitioning from student life to work life, I have really been relishing the weekends. It's so nice to be out of school and not have the pressure of feeling like I should be studying or working on my thesis. Every "fun" thing I ever did on the weekends made me feel guilty and even more stressed. Now, at 5 pm on Fridays, I can kick back, relax, and enjoy the weekend with a clear conscience!

We had a jam-packed weekend which started out with a marriage conference by Paul Tripp on Friday night and Saturday morning. After the conclusion of the conference, Nate and I went to Schlotzskys for lunch, so that we could use some coupons we had picked up at the Marathon Expo a couple weeks back. The coupons were enough to confuse the cashier so much that she gave us our lunches for free! We took our food over to Eleanor Tinsley Park where we had a great view of the Houston skyline. The weather could not have been more perfect this weekend. This weekend was one in particular where I wouldn't have traded being anywhere but here.

After lunch we browsed around at the 1/4 priced bookstore--- Nate looked like a googly-eyed kid in a candy store. The privately owned store gets all of its books from local Houstonians (unlike stores like Half Price Books which uses a distribution company) and carries an extensive selection of books that far exceeds the usual used book store, as well as rare and out of print material.

Later in the evening we headed out to Pearland to meet up with some friends for dinner. Pearland Town Center was enough to turn me into a googly-eyed kid myself and I am already planning my return for a day of shopping.
Today after the church fellowship luncheon we returned to Eleanor Tinsley Park with our books and spent the afternoon reading on a blanket while basking in the sun. The weather was just too nice to pass up being outdoors. We took a walk along the trails before heading home. I learned that Nate's brisk walking pace is equivalent to my jogging pace. What a sight to see! I am sore from trying to keep up with those long legs!

And in between all of this, I was even able to clean the house, get groceries, and do the laundry. Oh, and watch some superbowl. I am continually amazed at how massive those football players really are.

I'll leave you with a few more photos from last month. Happy February! I hope the Groundhog sees his shadow tomorrow...

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Red Bean Buns for Chinese New Year!

Dinner with friends one weekend (mostly Bible Study buddies):

A Good Night

Nate picked me up after work today and we headed straight to dinner then rolled into Barnes and Noble with our fat, full bellies. Here's what we found for a total of about $25 before tax (talk about a bargain!!)

I found: All Creatures Great and Small and All Things Bright and Beautiful (two volumes in one) by James Herriot, $10. I can't wait to read it/them.

Nate found: Volumes 2 and 3 of The Civil War- A Narrative by Shelby Foote, $7.50 each. These were the major steals!!

All of these, brand new, nice editions, and hardcovers. Nate was smiling as he signed his name on the credit card slip, and probably still is. A good night for our bellies and for our bookshelves.