In response to a few questions and comments made about my adventure with the homeless on Friday I would like to share a few thoughts, answer a few questions and express my gratitude to those who have taken a genuine interest in this subject...your encouraging emails and thoughts have certainly blessed my day, but you need to know that I am not special. I am not brave and I am certainly no angel or saint. I am an ordinary gal, rather plain and simple, just trying to make a difference in someone else's day. All praises for this adventure and any upcoming events need to be directed to our Heavenly Father and while you're at it why don't you take 5 minutes out of your day and read I John 3:1-24, you'll be glad you did. I've been chasing after God's heart for a long time, but it wasn't until recently I realized He's been chasing after my heart too! He just needed me to stand still long enough for me to hear what He had to say...but on with some of your questions...yes, there was apparent drug and alcohol addiction...did it bother me? No, we all have bad habits. Did I notice any mental illness? Actually, I did not, but I might have a different standard of craziness than most...I'm generally OK with little outbursts of song and dance...anything for a smile. Did I bring up Jesus or God? No I did not need to, they did, but even if they wouldn't have mentioned Him I knew in my heart that they are inundated with religious material all the time...I wanted to show them Jesus...no words needed for that. Was there profanity spoken and would this be acceptable for young teenagers to witness? Yes, there was profanity, but I can assure you that your young teenagers have already heard every word. There was also sharing, appreciation, camaraderie, and laughter, so you will have to figure out your own priorities. What were some of the stories? There were so many! But here is one: Earl revealed to me that he sleeps under the bridge because he knows the police are too lazy to climb up there and cite him, but he is not from California and so he is a little leery about the possibility of having a big earthquake (it's been in the news lately that we should expect a big one soon!) so he can't sleep very well and especially when the big semi trucks pass over the bridge, the whole thing trembles and he just knows "this is the one". He became homeless when his wife and daughter were killed. He has a son in Oregon but doesn't keep in touch very often because his son takes advantage of him for labor....makes him cut wood, do all the yard work and watch the kids all day...he said "No thank you to that!"...he also told me he was down to two pairs of socks because he keeps giving them to others. Earl is homeless by choice, but he'd much rather be back in Tennessee. He did say that the Dixie Chicks ruined his name when they came out with that video "Earl's Gotta Die"....I thought that was pretty funny.
Last night when I was laying in my warm soft bed I thought about Earl sleeping under that bridge and I genuinely began to worry about him. I got up this morning and went to the Farmer's Market and looked around for him. I have a little vinyl tote bag that inflates into a pillow, I was going to give that to him and see if he would let me buy him lunch, but I couldn't find him anywhere. So now I'm on a mission to figure out what I am going to cook next Friday night, any ideas?
I like that this has inspired so many of you...please, let me encourage you to set aside your judgments and/or discomforts. Homeless people are lonely and sometimes they just want someone to talk to. Maybe you don't agree with some of their choices or their lifestyle and that's OK (chances are they don't like much about it either)...reaching out doesn't mean you have to take them home with you...we are called to love one another and most of us do a pretty good job thinking that we do....now if we could just engage our actions with our thoughts what a great testimony that would be of God's love. I welcome your comments and your ideas, but what I'd really get excited about is a story on YOUR blog about how you were moved into action...and I promise it won't just make you feel good, it will reveal some things about your own life that will probably surprise you.
15 comments:
Thank you, my Darling Friend, for reminding me of one of my homeless friends. I haven't seen him for several years now ... and will tell the story of one of our shared experiences on my blog. You are such a treat, Joni, and I am grateful for you.
Loving who you are ...
Although I have served the homeless many meals, I have never done it one on one. I don't know that I would ever have the courage to do this. I admire your heart and love that give you the courage to do this. You set a wonderful example to all of us.
I agree with cindra you have been a great example. You are not only taking God to the homeless, but you also showed us God through your good works. I have a big heart for the homeless as well. When I was working the streets back in Enid we had a "regular" named TJ. He was homeless due to alcoholism. When it would get really cold we worried about his safety. I hate to tell you there have been times when it was sub zero weather we worried he would die and if we found him we would arrest him. Not to be mean, but we had no shelters that would take him. Salvation Army wouldn't take them if they had been drinking, and this small town did not have a homeless shelter. So the only way we could find in the middle of the night to help him was to bring him into the jail. I assure you he was always drunk, but that was not the real reason of the arrest. Then after a period of time we noticed he was not around. We had heard he left Enid, we did not see him for months. One day I was in front records getting something around 2 or 3:00 pm. and in walked this clean shaven man that looked familure. Yes, it was TJ. He had gone off and gotten cleaned up, met a nice lady and was sober. He came to the station to tell us all thank you for taking care of him all these past years. I went out there and gave him a big ole hug and wished him well in his new life. Never heard from him again. I can just hope that he stayed sober for the rest of his life. I would guess he is dead by now for that had been many years ago and he was in his 60's back then. I will never forget him.
Now that I am in a new community I will find a service here for those less fortunate than I am. It is truly a grate way to serve our Lord and Savior.
Once, after I'd handed some money to a guy who said his car had broken down and he needed money for food for himself and his family, my son berated me for it. "He'll just buy drugs, or alcohol", he said.
I thought a minute before I replied and then I told him, "but what if that was Jesus? Do you think he'll be wearing flowing robes and an obvious halo when he comes"?
You just have to do what you feel is right in your heart.
powerful, but simpley true! like john-michael...I too am grateful for YOU! Love always (as you already know this) Nettie
p.s.
suggestion for the neat meal...
maybe a pot of plain ol'pinto beans? It's cheap and easy to do, I'll supply the bowls, just let me know..k?
I THANK GOD YOU ARE DOING YOUR PART IN HIS KINGDOM.But if you are going to look for someone who is homeless have someone else with you. bible tells us to do it in pairs.Just take time to listen to GOD.? Thanks for calling over.To you and your family.ROMANS 12:9-21
Thank you for doing this Joni. And thank you for being an example for the rest of us. I pray you will be safe, and that God will bless your efforts.
It's funny. I've been thinking these last few weeks since my mom died, that I want to get out there and do something myself. And now I've read several blogs where others have recently made the same decision, yours is one of them. I haven't quite decided yet what I'm going to do, but it will be giving in one way, shape or form.
God's blessings!
You are braver than me and I admire your efforts. You have to follow your heart!
Please visit my blog when you have a chance. I have an award for you!
Joni, I love hearing you share your heart on these last few posts. They have been so meaningful to me and to many others. You have broken through a wall that most of us just think about doing. I know you were such a blessing to the people you met. Isn't it funny how blessed we feel at the same time. My parents have volunteered at a food pantry for several years. I've thought about getting involved in something like that and you have inspired me to think outside the box and just do something. Be careful. I like how God guided you to the right place to be!
Thank you for sharing Earl's story. It reminds me of how we all perceive things so differently. I feel bad for his son. I figure that his son is trying to "teach" his dad to earn his keep and be "responsible". But in doing so, he is not listening with his heart and only using logic.
I appreciate you so much for wanting to clarify your position and reasons for doing what you are doing. You are right that it is God who does these things and He deserves the credit. But, my friend, I hope you are not short changing yourself. Your humilty is important, but you made the choice to want to listen to Him and that is just as valiant. We all have opportunities every day to choose to listen or turn away. When we choose to listen, we can end up stepping into things that stretch us out of our comfort zones and that can be scary. So scary for some that they become imobile and choose not to listen at all. Stretching and listening always has it rewards in character, experience, and heart....but we have to step before we see those rewards. All of this to say, yes God is mighty and He gets the credit, but you are pretty special yourself dear friend.
As for your thoughts on us pursuing and God pursuing us...I know and relate so much to your feelings. I have currently been reading Captivating and am learning so much in the paradigm shift in my thinking on those thoughts.
We need more Joni's in the world. Yes, you are brave, and I wouldn't be at this age, so I try in other ways. It's always a beautiful thing to hear when someone has acted from their heart. :)
loved reading more, dear joni....thanks again for sharing your experience....helping with feeding the homeless in downtown mesa, we were asked who would do the greeting and hand out the plates (which are randomly numbered for them to get in line....) no one offered, so i spoke up....(i have never been known to be shy...in fact in 3rd grade i had to write the word loquacious 500 times! :)....each one thanked me, was truly appreciative, washed up before their meal....and i know they valued being looked in the eye and treated as an equal....that experience did more for me than them, i am sure....it made me want to know their circumstances and to do more.......important to know we can do something to make a difference.
hugs dear friend,
kimberly
Thank you Joni for such a sweet message. I did speak to my heart.
You are doing such a good thing Joni. I love what Brenda said. You never know if that person standing on the street corner is Jesus or not. I am sure these people are so happy to have a new friend, one that is not judging them but holding out her hand and her heart to them with love. God Bless You Joni. You say you are no saint but I think you are an angel.
I loved your story and I cannot wait to hear more.
God Bless You
Be careful.
Hugs
Patti
I enjoyed this post and it made me stop and think. I thank you for sharing this and being the sweet person you are.
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