Blessed To Serve

It’s Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada.  This is one of my favourite holidays.  The air is crisp, but the sun shines warm. 

Leaves glint golds and browns and flutter to the ground where they make a satisfying crunching noise as I walk; bringing a smile to my face.

I pause this weekend to read some of Ann Voeskamp’s, “One Thousand Gifts”.  And I record things for which I’m thankful in my own list of one thousand gifts.

My thoughts go back to this past Wednesday evening when my husband and I, along with other staff from Shine FM, the radio station where I work, helped serve a meal at the Mustard Seed.

The Mustard Seed is an organization in downtown Edmonton helping people in poverty by providing a hot meal, clothing, and personal items.

It’s something I’d never done before and I was unsure of what to expect.  But God challenges us to step out of our comfort zone to serve others.  This is how we learn and grow.

We chopped and scrubbed and cooked together as a team, and when it came time to

serve the meal, the Mustard Seed staff opened the doors to their building.  People filtered through the food line, friendly, grateful for the food and our service.

Some faces stand out in my memory…

• A gentle looking man who spent his time after the meal sitting alone at a table, engrossed in a book.  Was this his chance to relax after a long day?  A few minutes of captured peace in a stress filled life of survival?

 

• The fellow with a twinkle in his eye who, when I asked how he was doing today responded, “As fine as a hair on a frog”…I laughed, “that’s pretty fine”.  He laughed back and agreed.

 

• The man who warned us not to get to close because he had pneumonia and didn’t want to make anyone sick.  My heart goes out to him.  I’m sure all he wants to do is curl up in a warm bed, but there’s no hot meal at home, so hunger drives him out.  I offer up a prayer of healing for the man.

• The elderly lady who quietly comes through the line.  I see her walking alone down the dark street when we leave and I wonder what sort of life she’s had.  Why is she at The Mustard Seed instead of home with her children and grandchildren?  I offer a prayer for her safety on the dark streets of Edmonton.

• The middle-aged man who comes through the line and tells me just seeing my smile has brightened his day.  I’m humbled that something so little seems like so much.

• The children who come with their parents because there’s no food at home.  The staff brings out toys so they can play after the meal. 

People eat together, and talk about their day.  They share their lives with one another.  This is their community.  Most of these people have homes but have to choose between paying rent and buying food.  There’s not enough money on the wages they earn to do both.

The staff tell us some come from across the city for the meal.  Sometimes it’s not just about the food, sometimes it’s about the companionship.  People are lonely and The Mustard Seed provides social nourishment as well as physical.

After the meal we clean up and head back to our lives.  But a little part of us has been touched by the community at The Mustard Seed.  In serving, we have been blessed.  And this Thanksgiving I'm thankful for that.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

Have you served the poor?  How did it make you feel?  If you haven’t would you consider it?  Please share your thoughts by clicking the link below.

If you’d like to support the Mustard Seed go to www.theseed.ca .

Thursday of last week was an incredibly windy day.  It was blowing so hard I had to fight to keep my little Kia on the highway. 

But that's not what was responsible for the lump of dread curled up in my chest.  It was the thick black smoke billowing ominously on the horizon, promising devastation and destruction, that knotted fear in my stomach.

The smoke plume consumed my attention the closer I got to home.  At first I thought a new development on the outskirts of town was on fire, but as I got closer it became clear the origin of the smoke was in our neighbourhood.

I rounded the street corner and was faced with this...

The apartment complex at the end of our back lane was on fire.  It had started about twenty minutes earlier.  The fire fighters fought with every weapon they had but the enemy that evening was the wind.

Within a half an hour of taking this picture the entire complex had been burned from one end to the other.

I've never seen a fire this devastating in close proximity.  Hopefully I never will again.  I prayed for the residents of the complex and for the fire fighters; wondering selfishly if they would be able to contain it, or if our street would be told to evacuate.

A few hours later they knocked down the fire and contained it, but continued the battle until 1:00 o'clock in the morning.

A week later the building stands, a black, burnt out shell.  Demolition has started and the neighbourhood has resumed normal activities.

But what about the 60 residents trying to pick up what's left of their lives?  No one was seriously injured in the blaze, but some families lost pets, and a number of people lost everything they owned.  A life history...gone.

I can't imagine the overwhelming the sense of loss.  Where do you go?  What do you do?  Where do you live?  How do you start over?

I write this because it's a reminder of how much I take for granted.  Our home, my family, the clothes I wear, the furniture we sit on, the pictures in albums, keepsakes, memorabilia, our cats. 

These are all things we need to appreciate.  One day, with no warning, they may be gone.

The community and churches have banded together to provide support for the people displaced in the fire.  Community spirit is alive and well, but there will be much healing left to be done for the people affected by the loss.

Please pray for these families. Keep them in your hearts, and hug your spouse, your children, and your pets a little tighter tonight.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:
Take a few minutes and try to imagine what it would be like to lose everything you owned in an instant.  Share your thoughts by clicking on "comments" below.  The next time you hear about a tragedy like this, don't turn a blind eye.  Take action to help out.

Moral Dilemmas

Last Thursday evening my husband and I went on a date night.  The plan was dinner and a movie.  Given my husband’s American background he wanted to see “Lincoln”, so off we went.

I enjoyed the movie but two uncomfortable thoughts burrowed into my brain and continue to gnaw rat-like away at it.

The first is this…

Does the battle against an evil justify blurring the lines between what’s right and what’s wrong?

Lincoln’s goal to abolish slavery in the Southern United States is the main plot line in this historical movie account.  A worthy goal, though not popular in his time in history.

We all know Lincoln achieved this goal, but the way the movie depicts the journey to get there leaves me wondering if it’s OK to blur the lines between black and white, or right and wrong, if the stakes are high enough.

In the movie Lincoln resorts to bribery, coercion, buying votes, and downright bullying to ensure the bill to end slavery is passed.

I sat with a sense of unease as I watched the story unfold.  Is it OK to use whatever means necessary to get the desired outcome?

What about the controversial torture scenes depicted in the movie “Zero Dark Thirty”?  Can we conveniently turn off moral beliefs when the “greater good” is at stake?

You’re probably sitting there thinking, “They’re MOVIES you idiot…fiction…creative writing…get over it.”  Fair point.

But let’s be realistic.  We all know black and white turn to shades of grey in politics, in business, and in other venues.  And we turn a blind eye, making an excuse, “Well that’s just business.” Or, “It’s politics, what can you expect?”

Whether it’s fact or fiction it still begs the disconcerting question…is it OK to blur the lines between “right” and “wrong” or “good” and “bad” when trying to rid the world of a greater “bad”?

The second thought is this…

The thirteenth amendment to the U.S. constitution outlawing slavery was signed in 1865.  Today we’re close to being 150 years in the future.  At first glance you think, “How far we’ve come”.  Perhaps a more accurate statement is, “How far we have to go.”

Hate crimes and prejudices are still all too common, not only in our own back yards of Canada and the United States, but around the world. 

Granted, slavery no longer exists openly on the North American continent.  But we’re still slaves to our own biases that prevent us from seeing and treating people from other races and religions as equals.

At first glance it’s easy to throw out pat answers to these thoughts, freeing our minds to move on to other seemingly more important questions. 

If we do gloss over this type of thought process I think we cheat ourselves out of an opportunity to open our minds to consider different opinions and ideas.  In doing so we miss out on an opportunity for personal growth.

What do you think?  Do we need to struggle with questions like these in order to learn and grow?  Is it OK to blur the lines of black and white when it serves a higher purpose?  Do we still struggle with human equality issues around the world today?

Share your thoughts by clicking on “comments” below.

Whose Responsibility Are The Poor - Part 2

On Sunday I closed out my post by asking you to consider some of the prevalent attitudes towards helping the poor.

·         “If they want food then they should get a job like the rest of us.”

·         “I work hard for my money.  Why should I give it to a bum on the street who can’t be bothered doing an honest day’s work?”

·         “Life’s short and it sucks.  The world owes me.  I deserve that new BMW.”

·         “We’ve got our own troubles.  People starving in Africa really aren’t my problem”

Where did we go wrong?  When did we start caring more about accumulating personal wealth and less about taking care of the poor and marginalized in our communities and around the world?  When did the instant gratification of getting it on credit replace our desires to make a difference in the world?

For most of us our pay cheque is already spent long before it hits our bank account.  Can you relate to paying 19% or 28% interest on your credit card for stuff you “just had to have” five years ago (with good intentions of paying it off before the interest free period ran out)?  You’re not alone, in fact these days you’re pretty much considered a “normal” consumer. 

I challenge you today to closely evaluate the state of your budget.  I’d like to offer a different way of living...perhaps even issue a challenge towards it.

What if, instead of spending frivolously on toys, expensive cars, and designer clothes we slashed our spending, worked at eliminating personal debt, and opened our eyes to the world around us?

What if we started caring about people starving in Africa, or orphans living on the street in India, or Mexicans making their homes in a garbage dump, or the homeless family in our own inner city?  If you knew your donation meant someone could eat more than one meal a day do think you’d really care that you drive a five-year-old Ford instead of a new Mercedes? 

Do you think you’d miss carrying the $800.00 Louis Vuitton hand bag when your $40.00 off-the-rack purse means you’re investing in a child by providing money so she can go to school and learn to be a future leader for change in her country? 

What about giving up one of your daily lattes and putting the money towards financing a start up business through micro-finance at www.kiva.org (it only takes $25.00 to make your first loan – just six lattes).

Isn’t it time we stopped wrapping our self-worth up in possessions and instead start investing in food, education, justice, and equality for the poor?  You can start out small, right in your own back yard.

1.       Try donating to your local food bank, or giving some of your time to pack food hampers.

2.       Volunteer at the homeless shelter, or give to your church’s outreach or benevolent fund.

3.       Pledge to sponsor a child through World Vision, Compassion, Christian Children’s Fund, or Samaritan’s Purse.  Your sponsorship will completely change their lives.

The opportunities are endless, but it’s up to us to wake up, shed our cloaks of complacency, and start sharing the wealth we’ve been given. 

This change in attitude might mean re-arranging your budget.  Personally, for my husband and me, it means addressing personal debt so we’re free to give more generously.  We’re working on this, but still find great reward in donating small amounts where we can.

Whatever the sacrifice, it’s worth it.  God promises blessing to those who give generously.

“Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.  There will always be some in the land who are poor.  That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites (people) in need.”  Deuteronomy 15:10-11

Deuteronomy 15:10-11 - Whose Responsibility Are The Poor?

MEMORY VERSE:

“Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.  There will always be some in the land who are poor.  That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites (people) in need.”  Deuteronomy 15:10-11

Recently I’ve been reading the book of Deuteronomy.  The Message calls this book, “the longest sermon in the Bible and maybe the longest sermon ever.”  (And you thought you’d sat through the longest sermon right in your home church! J)

This is Moses’ last sermon.  It’s his final instructions to the Israelite community before he dies.  He longs for the community to follow God, but he realizes they’re distracted from good intentions as quickly as a squirrel chases after a nut, so he speaks carefully, breaking his dissertation into three topics:

1.       He reviews the entire events of the Israelites’ journey since they left Egypt.  He focuses on “landmark” moments, highlighting God’s leadership, protection, and provision throughout the time they’ve been in the wilderness.

2.       He reminds them of the laws they are to follow so they can be a God-centered community.

3.       This is a defining moment for the community of Israel and Moses presents them with a call to action.  A call to make a choice to commit their lives to God and obey His commandments.

I know reading through the laws in the Old Testament can be the perfect cure for insomnia.  But if you stop to consider some of them you’ll see that they are designed to protect the Israelites, prevent disease, and encourage healthy community and equality among the people.

The two verses I’ve chosen as the memory verses for the week talk about caring for the poor and offer good practices for us to follow in our own lives.  I don’t think God ever intended for the disparity that exists among people and nations today.

He didn’t intend for a class system to exist.  He didn’t intend for luxury condos to be built on one side of the street while people struggle to survive in slums and garbage dumps on the other.  In fact in Deuteronomy chapters 14 and 15 He puts in place very specific laws to ensure wealth is distributed equally.

“At the end of every third year, gather the tithe from all your produce of that year and put it aside in storage. Keep it in reserve for the Levite who won't get any property or inheritance as you will, and for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow who live in your neighborhood. That way they'll have plenty to eat and God, your God, will bless you in all your work.   Deuteronomy 14:28-29 (The Message)

“There must be no poor people among you because God is going to bless you lavishly in this land that God, your God, is giving you as an inheritance, your very own land. But only if you listen obediently to the Voice of God, your God, diligently observing every commandment that I command you today.”  Deuteronomy 15:4-5  (The Message)

Many of us truly are some of the richest people in the world.  On any given day we may throw away more food than people in a developing country will see in a week.  How can we ignore the plight of people who are marginalized and fighting for justice when God calls us to help the poor and be responsive to the needs of those around us?

I want to explore these thoughts in more detail in this week’s mid-week post, but for now I’ll leave you to consider your reactions to some statements that I believe are part of our problem...

• “If they want food then they should get a job like the rest of us.”

• “I work hard for my money.  Why should I give it to a bum on the street who can’t be bothered doing an honest day’s work?”

• “Life’s short and it sucks.  The world owes me.  I deserve that new BMW.”

• “We’ve got our own troubles.  People starving in Africa really aren’t my problem”

Come back on Thursday, August 9, when we’ll explore this topic in more detail.

If you’d like to share some your thoughts about helping the poor please do so by clicking on “comments” below.

“Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.  There will always be some in the land who are poor.  That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites (people) in need.”  Deuteronomy 15:10-11

How Big Is the Log In Your Eye?

I’ve learned through experience it’s never a good idea to judge someone else.  You can never truly say how you’ll react in a given situation until you’re living right there in the heat of the moment.

Consider these scenarios…

1.      You press charges against a teenager who’s caught shoplifting a pair of running shoes from the store where you work.  You want him to receive the severest penalty so he’ll learn a lesson.

QUESTION:     If  you knew you were going home this evening to face three hungry children and an empty cupboard would you give in to the temptation to dip into the petty cash drawer before you left work so you could buy a little food for your family?

2.      You look down on your neighbor when she tells you her marriage ended because she had an affair.

QUESTION:     Did you stop to consider how quickly the “harmless flirting” you do with your married co-worker could degenerate into a full blown affair, given the proper circumstances?

3.      You view the homeless people on the street as lazy, good for nothing bums.

QUESTION:     If you lost your job tomorrow and couldn’t find work for six months where would you be?  How far in debt would you be?  Could you keep up your mortgage or rent payment?

4.      You see ex-convicts as outcasts of society, not to be trusted, and certainly not to be given a second chance.

QUESTION:     Would you be able to restrain yourself from taking the law into your own hands to get revenge on someone if they hurt your child?  Would you end up in jail because of your need to seek revenge?

Please don’t misunderstand.  I’m not saying circumstances make it OK to blur the lines of morality or to take actions that are illegal.

I’m simply commenting on the fact that we’re quick to judge and condemn other people when they do something wrong or act in a way we feel is inappropriate.  Here’s our problem though; given a desperate situation we might find ourselves dancing around blurred moral or legal boundaries.

Jesus has some very sound advice for us when it comes to judging others…

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.  For you will be treated as you treat others.  The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.  And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?  How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?  Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”  Matthew 7:1-5 (NLT)

Are there any “logs” in your eye that need to be removed?  Please share your thoughts on this topic by clicking on “comments” below.

Thoughts On "The Hunger Games" Trilogy

“Ladies and Gentlemen...Let the Seventy-sixth Hunger Games begin!”

(quoted from Katniss and Finnick in Mockingjay)

Since the Hunger Games movie was released in March it’s been hard to ignore.  Everywhere you turn...on the bus, in the airport, in the food court...people young and old (wait a minute did I just call myself old) are reading books from this trilogy...The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, or Mockingjay.

I prefer a good read to watching a movie and decided it was time to see what all the hype was about.  A quick click of the mouse downloaded the trilogy into my e-reader and off I went on a Hunger Games adventure.

The books sucked me in.  I couldn’t put them down.  I had to keep reading, even if it meant a few late night sessions.  After a week I finally finished the last book and could reclaim my life!

The weird thing is I found the whole premise of the books really disturbing, but I couldn’t stop reading.  Adults force kids into an arena to fight to the death as a form of entertainment.  The books are filled with poverty, violence, and the fight for survival under a powerful and corrupt government system.

My mind paints very vivid mental pictures and some of the images turned my stomach.  Yet I was compelled to continue the books to the end.  And I’m not the only one drawn into this dark story. 

I’m left asking the question, “Why?”  What is it about this series that attracts the teenage and adult audience alike?

It’s kind of like driving by the scene of an accident; that sense of horrified fascination.  You know you shouldn’t gawk but you just can’t help yourself.   I think it’s the same sense of horror we experienced when the planes crashed into the Twin Towers.  The world couldn’t tear itself away from the horror playing out in front of them on the TV screen.

 A friend and I were discussing this phenomenon.  She suggests perhaps it’s just a little too close to the truth in some parts of our world.  Children and families are used, abused, and manipulated by corrupt government bodies.

Violence fills the streets in some countries.  Poverty and hunger run rampant.  Victors return from war with post traumatic stress, forced to re-live, over and over again in their minds, the horror and atrocities they’ve experienced.

No one gets out of these situations unscarred.  No one comes out unchanged by the violence.  Rebellions are happening all around the world; struggles for freedom and independence - a better way of life.

Is today’s world really that much different than that of Suzanne Collins’ fictional country of Panem?  Are people of today’s world so much different than the characters of Katniss and Peeta; manipulated as pawns in both the government’s and the rebel’s plans, but refusing to bend to either one completely?

Are we any different than Gale, whose moral boundaries blur in the heat of the war or Prim and her mother; innocent people caught in the middle of tragedy?  Are we different than Haymitch and Johanna; fighting an internal battle with nightmares from the past and medicating the pain with alcohol and drugs?

The Hunger Games trilogy isn’t an easy read but it certainly gives us a lot to think about.  The story haunts you even after you’ve finished the books. 

Have you read the books or seen the first movie?  What’s your reaction?  Share your thoughts on my Facebook link or by clicking on “Comments” below.

Matthew 25:35-36 & 40 - Practical Street Faith

MEMORY VERSE:

“I was hungry and you fed me,

I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,

I was homeless and you gave me a room,

I was shivering and you gave me clothes,

I was sick and you stopped to visit,

I was in prison and you came to me.”  Matthew 25:35-36 (The Message)

“...Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me – you did it to me.”  Matthew 25:40 (The Message)

I just got back from spending a weekend with friends in Calgary.  Besides spending time with “the girls”, another highlight to a weekend in Calgary is Sunday worship at Southwood United Church.  This is the church I attended for the seven years I lived in Calgary. 

The Holy Spirit is very busy at Southwood.  The presence of God is palpable throughout the service.  The love and generosity of the congregation is overwhelming.  Certainly they have their challenges and conflicts; what church doesn’t.  But they’re lead by Pastor Ed Lewis who is strong in faith and believes deeply in the power of prayer and leading through the Spirit. 

If you’re ever in Calgary on Sunday morning, take the opportunity to check out this spirit led church.  If you’re looking for some good preaching, listen to Pastor Ed’s sermons at www.southwoodchurch.ca .

One of my friends was telling me about a project the Southwood kids did recently in Sunday School.  They collected small personal hygiene items.  Things like soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, razors, lip balm, deodorant, and band aids.

They also brought non-perishable snacks like granola bars, apple sauce, trail mix, nuts, hard candy, and gift cards for coffee.  All the items were put together into zip lock bags along with a written blessing.  These are called blessing bags.

The idea is to have a supply of these bags with you in the car.  When you meet a homeless person you are now prepared.  Many times I’ve struggled with how to respond to the homeless (see Starbucks, Tea, and Alcohol – Not a Typical Sunday and The Eyes of Jesus) and the blessing bag provides a great answer.

In the book of James, Jesus’ brother, James, talks about putting your faith into action.

“Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’ But I say, ‘How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds?  I will show you my faith by my good deeds.’  You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.  Good for you!  Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.  How foolish!  Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?”  James 2:18-19 (NLT)

Shortly after the kids made the blessing bags my friend and her young daughter were out and about when they noticed a homeless couple.  They took the blessing bag they had with them, approached the couple, and gave it to the woman.  The look of joy and appreciation on the woman’s face touched my friend’s heart.  They went back to the church, retrieved a second bag, and returned to give it to the man.

Was it outside of my friend’s comfort zone?  Absolutely!  But she didn’t let fear hold her back.  She stepped out in faith to serve this couple and was blessed beyond measure; and what an incredible learning experience for her shy, young daughter.  Faith in action speaks louder than any words ever will. 

That’s what Jesus is talking about... 

“I was hungry and you fed me,

I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,

I was homeless and you gave me a room,

I was shivering and you gave me clothes,

I was sick and you stopped to visit,

I was in prison and you came to me.”  Matthew 25:35-36

“...Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me – you did it to me.”  Matthew 25:40

Acts 10:15 & 28 - Litter Box Thinking

MEMORY VERSES:

“But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.””  Acts 10:15 (NLT)

“...but God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.” Acts 10:28 (NLT)

In Acts 10 God sends a vision to Peter.  He puts unclean animals on display, telling Peter to, “kill and eat them.” (Act 10:12-13) 

In the Old Testament God gave the Israelites laws to follow.  Some of these laws related specifically to food.  Leviticus 11 identifies a long list of animals the Jews were not allowed to eat. 

Peter is horrified at the thought of eating unclean animals!  He’s always been a devout follower of Jewish dietary restrictions.  He’s never experienced the fatty goodness of bacon and he’s not about to start now.

But God isn’t speaking specifically about food.  God uses the food analogy to let Peter know he’s habouring some pretty strong prejudices towards non-Jews (the Gentile nations around Israel).

In Acts 1:8 Jesus tells the disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (NLT)

Peter has been hoarding the message of Jesus, keeping it only for the Jews.  His biases are interfering with God’s plan to share the good news of Jesus’ resurrection and the forgiveness of sins with the entire world.

God gives Peter a spiritual kick in the butt, essentially telling him, “Expand your horizons, broaden your thinking, open your mind to new possibilities, and get over your biased thoughts.” (My words, not God’s)

The great thing about this story is that Peter gets it.  He says, “...but God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.”  (Act 10:28)

Peter has a huge paradigm shift and gives up his prejudices.  You and I are followers of Christ because the early Christians pushed past their prejudices and shared the gospel message with people outside of the Jewish culture.

We need to do the same today.  We all harbour biases and prejudices.  I’m personally working to overcome some prejudices that I can trace back to childhood.  Others I’ve adopted as I’ve gone through life, applying stereotypes to people of certain religions or races simply because of media hype or a negative experience with one individual.

It’s time we listened to God’s message, “...Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”  It’s time to re-evaluate our personal beliefs.  We need to understand where our prejudices come from, why we hold them, and then work at letting them go.

It’s not easy to let go of belief systems we’ve held all our lives.  Sometimes you think you’ve succeeded, only to wake up one morning and find your thoughts stink like a cat litter box that hasn’t been cleaned in a week.

If you read Galations 2 you'll find this happened to Peter.  After the vision from God he had this great paradigm shift only to revert back to his stinking litter box way of thinking.

We won’t always get it right the first, second, or third time, but if we work at it hard enough and long enough we’ll eventually overcome those damaging, biased, litter box ways.

This week ask God to identify the prejudices you carry.  Then prayerfully seek His help to open your mind and change your way of thinking.

“But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.””  Acts 10:15 (NLT)

“...but God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.” Acts 10:28 (NLT)

Starbucks, Tea, And Alcohol - Not A Typical Sunday Morning

Just when I think I’ve got a situation figured out, life’s GPS fails and I find myself navigating a scenario without a soothing, English accented voice giving turn by turn directions.  My plans suddenly don’t work.  Ever had that experience?

A couple of weekends ago I was working out of town at a trade show.  One of the perks to travelling is breakfast at Starbucks.  They offer a yummy bacon and Gouda sandwich and Earl Grey tea that begs to be savoured like fine wine!

It was Sunday morning.  There wasn’t a huge line up; just a couple of people in front of me.  I noticed a slight, stooped woman in worn clothes standing off to the side.  She seemed to be studying the menu posted behind the counter. 

After a few seconds a customer behind her asked if she was in line.  The woman didn’t respond but moved ahead. 

“A homeless woman,” I thought.  “I wonder if she has enough money for coffee and food to keep her warm in the rain this morning.”

I watched covertly as she shuffled forward and thought “If she doesn’t have enough money, I’ll pay for her sandwich and drink.”

Her turn came.  She was still scanning the menu.  Without making eye contact with the cashier she asked, “Do you have alcohol?”

I stood rooted to the floor.  I wasn’t prepared for this.  The cashier indicated they didn’t have alcohol and I watched dumbly as she stepped out into the rain.   I’d been ready to quietly move forward and buy her food but that’s not what she wanted.

While she stood on the street corner waiting for the light to change, conflicting thoughts jostled along the treadmill in my mind.  “Should I buy some food and give it to her?  She doesn’t want food.  Would she be offended?  Does she have a safe, dry place to go?  How can I help?” 

I completely lacked inspiration.  I ordered my breakfast and tea and stepped outside.  Angels’ tears poured down all around me in the form of heavy rain.

My mind screamed in frustration at the disparity of it; my tea, my breakfast, a woman looking for alcohol to satisfy an addiction to escape the reality of life, and my epic failure to take action.

How can we respond in these situations?  I thought about Jesus and wondered what His response to this woman would have been.  He ate with the dregs of society, He talked with outcasts, and He had compassion for invisible minorities.

My heart was filled with compassion for this woman but it failed to make it into my hands and feet.  Even with good intentions, quite often we respond in ways that aren’t satisfactory to us or to God.  What frustrates me most is, given the same situation, I’m not sure I’d do any better. 

How do we grow?  How do we learn to reach out with a gesture that makes a difference in someone’s life right now?

Is being aware of our failed response and evaluating our judgments, assumptions, and pre-conceptions enough to open our minds to new ways to react?

Back in the car I prayed that God would protect her and take her somewhere warm and dry for the day.  I prayed for insight into how to respond in a Christ-like manner.  I prayed I would do better next time.

What are your thoughts?  How would you respond?  Please share by clicking on “comments” below.