An interesting thing happened at my church yesterday. As usual, there was a table set up outside with coffee and donuts. A homeless guy was standing around talking to anyone who would talk to him while he clutched his little coffee cup. Someone introduced him to me and I got him to sit down at the back of our church. I could tell that there was no way he was going to sit with the congregation, so I sat with him on some carpeted risers at the back.
I was pretty interested in this guy. He had a hard life and was willing to talk about it. He told me about shelters around the area. Some were ok, but he didn't like having to spend so much time riding buses to get anywhere. Lack of transportation was a huge issue for him. He told me about his nephew and what he would like to do for the boy.
Soon the service began. I told him that he could do what ever he felt comfortable doing, but I was going to stand while we sang. He stood too. Pretty soon he was getting into the beat of the music and enjoying it. He leaned over to me and said that we needed a tambourine. After a while, he went out side. One of the men in the church talked with him for a bit before he disappeared.
I felt badly that he went away. I wanted to give him some money. It didn't occur to me that he would just leave like that. But I did give him something. The one who talked to him outside told me that he was feeling uncomfortable being there. Not because he didn't feel like he belonged, but because no one had ever spoken with him like a human being and he didn't know how to process it. Someone listened to him and heard what he had to say. I don't know where he went to, but I do know that he was heard.
I seriously believe that the heart of God is all about how we treat each other, and why. Do we do nice things because it's expected of us or do we actually care? How much are we willing to step out of our comfort zone to help someone else? Love thy neighbor as thyself. Yep, neighbor is a pretty inclusive word. For me, it means anyone that God brings into my life. I am a woman of great kindness. I am a woman of great kindness. I believe that I can be all that God designed me to and I will be Kindness to those around me and touch the lives of my neighbors.
I was pretty interested in this guy. He had a hard life and was willing to talk about it. He told me about shelters around the area. Some were ok, but he didn't like having to spend so much time riding buses to get anywhere. Lack of transportation was a huge issue for him. He told me about his nephew and what he would like to do for the boy.
Soon the service began. I told him that he could do what ever he felt comfortable doing, but I was going to stand while we sang. He stood too. Pretty soon he was getting into the beat of the music and enjoying it. He leaned over to me and said that we needed a tambourine. After a while, he went out side. One of the men in the church talked with him for a bit before he disappeared.
I felt badly that he went away. I wanted to give him some money. It didn't occur to me that he would just leave like that. But I did give him something. The one who talked to him outside told me that he was feeling uncomfortable being there. Not because he didn't feel like he belonged, but because no one had ever spoken with him like a human being and he didn't know how to process it. Someone listened to him and heard what he had to say. I don't know where he went to, but I do know that he was heard.
I seriously believe that the heart of God is all about how we treat each other, and why. Do we do nice things because it's expected of us or do we actually care? How much are we willing to step out of our comfort zone to help someone else? Love thy neighbor as thyself. Yep, neighbor is a pretty inclusive word. For me, it means anyone that God brings into my life. I am a woman of great kindness. I am a woman of great kindness. I believe that I can be all that God designed me to and I will be Kindness to those around me and touch the lives of my neighbors.
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