Sunday, May 03, 2009:  I have reached a point of frustration as it relates to helping the poor.  Jesus states that we will always have the poor among us, and he states that if we give a cup of cold water to the least of these, we have done it to him.  There are numerous passages that tell us that God desires for us to reach out to those in need.

My frustration is that I have mostly helped the poor over the years by throwing money at various organizations.  I think giving to organizations is certainly a viable way to help those in need, but I think Jesus is actually calling us to do more than just send a check.  So the question becomes, “How do I intersect the lives of the poor, the homeless, etc?”  I can assure you that they are not knocking on my front door in a nice neighborhood; nor do they come to my office; nor do they show up at the church I attend.  I am isolated from the poor like many of you.

This week I decided to do something about this.  With the help of a dear friend, we decided to show up @ 6:45am last Monday at one of our McDonald’s that tends to attract a “different” clientele.  We brought devotional material and prayed that God would bring to our table people who were struggling and perhaps start building a bridge to them, learn their story, listen for their needs and begin helping the poor in meaningful ways.

Well, we were disappointed because the clientele looked mostly like us; however, with ten minutes left before we both needed to head to work, the cashier who took our money for coffee took a break and wandered over to our table and asked what we were doing!  We gave her a thumbnail sketch, and she ended up telling her story: birthed 9 kids; no father in the picture; works two shifts to make ends meet.  When she left our table, my friend and I were in awe that God honored our attempt to reach someone who needed the help and spiritual encouragement.  We left feeling very affirmed that we’re on the right track. 

The following day I was at a gas station, and a lady walked by who didn’t appear to have much to her name, and I simply smiled at her and said, “Hi”.  Upon the initial contact, she rounded the pump and asked me if I could spare $5 (smiling with no teeth and only gums visible).  In times past I would say “no” because I’d worry about them taking the $5 and buying cigs and alcohol.  Not today.  I was reminded that the money in my pocket is God’s money that I have been asked to manage, and I just felt she needed the $5 more than I did.  I gave it to her and said, “God bless you”.

This week’s spiritual journey has been teaching me that the poor is all around us and that we need to be spiritually sensitive to those around us.  My friend and I are going to keep in touch with the cashier, and we are going to look at the Soup Kitchen and see if we can’t be “regulars” on a weekly basis and see if we can build some relationships and help them beyond a meal.

Blessings,

Lee Ann