One group of individuals one would think that would easy to stereotype and almost always be right is those classified as "homeless." Tuesday I was fortunate enough to be a part of the "Macomb County Homeless Coalition" at Warren Woods Church of the Nazarene. Here at the Coalition individuals faced with homelessness were invited to come and participate. At the church organizations, agencies, and not-for-profits alike all stood together in battling homelessness. Haircuts, a hot meal, clothes, and even raffle drawings were given at the Coalition. I was privileged to represent Warren Woods COTN's table featuring the Angel Food program.
I had many that came by the table, some genuinely wanting to know about Angel Food, and some just looking to see if I was handing out something free. What amazed me the most were some of the people that I saw. Yes, there were those that did in fact look like the homeless stereotype, but there were also others...others that looked like they should be driving SUV's and working at some well-off company.
As I talked to many, most of them just long enough for them to hear my explanation of Angel Foods and some of them for a tad bit longer, I began to wonder what their story was. Clearly there had to be a story as to why they had ended up there...
I walked away from this feeling a little more uncomfortable with my life. As I had walked among them all, dressed professionally in my high heels (yes! me..lin high heels!), dress pants, nice dress shirt, and jewelry I began to feel very self-conscious of the simple fact that I did not want any single individual there to think that I thought I was better somehow...because I am not. If it were not for the kindness of many people in my life, I would be right there with them.
Ironically, I left this "party" to head to another in order to represent those that I had been surrounded with to promote and hopefully raise funds for a new H.O.P.E. Center that would support the individuals I had just been rubbing elbows with. At this new "party" were clients of a Financial Advising company that were on the complete other end of the spectrum than the homeless. These individuals were those that have been very blessed financially. It is funny to me, but I think I felt more uncomfortable at this "party" than I did at the other; knowing that just an hour earlier I was mingling with those without homes at all and now to be mingling with those that probably had enough extra room collectively to house every single homeless individual.
I could continue and go on, but I won't except to leave you with this thought...
Matthew 25:31-46
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.
32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
