They are just like you and me...

We live in a world where many have not just enough, but an abundance. The big homes, decent cars, food on the table every day as we enjoy the fare of our choice, designer clothes, vacations, mini-vacations, knick-knacks, patty whacks and give a dog a bone! Do I need to go on? You get my point. We live in abundance! Of this abundance we seldom think of sharing because it’s always about us.

I was driving to work the other day and my heart grieved uncontrollably. I mean, it was an “all of a sudden, completely out of nowhere moment.” I drove the streets of the mainline looking at those big fancy homes, designer cars and petite women sitting behind those SUV’s they could hardly handle. It made me sick. I could not help pulling into my employer’s parking lot with my eyes filled with tears—hoping no one parked next to me and asked what was wrong. I was just sick of those who have nothing and yet those of us who have so much, never think of sharing. We’re all guilty of it so don’t read this and think, “I know she’s not talking about me.” YES….I’m talking about you too.

It doesn’t seem fair and I wanted to stay in my car and just beg God not just for forgiveness for those of us who have been so selfish but for mercy on those who live in the streets. It is a complete misconception to believe that these people want to be homeless. They do not. They are just like you and me. The only difference is that we are one second away from a tragedy or disaster striking ~ completely removing all of our cozy comforts of life. For these people; they’ve met theirs. Are there some who have personality disorders and who are dangerous? Yes, but that does not excuse the behaviors of those who live in abundance and simply refuse to help.

I sat in my car asking God why He would place such a heavy burden on my heart? I did not need this so early in the morning. My make-up was fresh, I was nice and caffeinated from my coffee, had just finished listening to some Old School Funk on Pandora and I was ready to get the work day going, but apparently, God had other plans for me. I could not stop weeping, so I waited for the answer and refused to get out of my car until I received something. I got my answer. He said to me that it was on purpose that he placed this on my heart. He told me explicitly, plainly, boldly and matter of factly that on purpose he gave me a heart for people and that he knew I would do everything within my power to help. He also told me that he knew I would be praying without ceasing for our homeless, underserved, under privileged, disregarded and disrespected population. He told me that he will hear me. I cried some more. Thanks God! I was all jacked up at 8:30 in the morning!

My car was facing train tracks that morning and a train happened to be going by. I recall (as I sat in my car) how the noise of the train drowned out my sobs for these people but immediately calmed myself because God heard me. It is truly a burden when you love people as deeply as I do. You want to help everyone but just don’t have enough and so you find yourself constantly resisting the temptation of becoming angry at those who can help but won’t or never think to. You fight the urge of asking those who brag about what they just bought if they’ve given to someone who have nothing and you wait patiently, wishing, hoping and praying for them to tell you that they made a donation to some organization---any organization that helps someone. They never do.

I have enough. I don’t need anything else. I really do not. If I don’t ever get anything else EVER in this world for the rest of my life, I STILL have more than I need. Help someone yall. Step away from yourselves and help a stranger. Step outside of your world because everyone doesn’t live there and help someone. Stop catering to the ones who you know eat every day and think about those who don’t. We are all a second away from a catastrophe and we don’t know what’s coming around the corner. They could be us. Help them yall. Please. They could be us.