Who Fits the Profile?
Yesterday, I took a tour with some friends of the new Twin City Mission on Randolf Street in Bryan. On our way over there Doug, the director, asked our group to think about our perspective on homelessness.
“All right, raise your hand if you know someone that is homeless?” Doug’s question hung in the air, and it was one of those moments when everyone’s eyes shift to the ground. I raised my hand, half-halfheartedly, because of our work with Family Promise and the Lincoln House of Hope. But all the while I muttered to myself, “Do I really know these homeless people?”
It was at that point that Doug reminded us that homelessness is a matter of perspective. All of you know someone that is homeless because all of you know Jesus.
What a helpful reminder! Jesus was born as one of the down and out. Surely he learned carpentry as an apprentice to his father Joseph, but we know that he left home at a young age. He lived without a home, without privilege and distinction. He called His disciples to follow him, and they did.
- Since we listen to Jesus, the king of kings, the homeless one, we can listen to any homeless person and see what they have to say about life.
- Since we talk to Jesus all the time, we can talk with anyone who is homeless. Who would ever “talk down” to Jesus? Why would we do that with anyone?
- Remember Jesus the next time you see a person that you might fit into a homeless profile.
Criticism is easy — See that Starbucks cup in his hand? He shouldn’t have bought that! How disgraceful! And off we go. All we see are the issues. We have lost the sense that this person is a real person.
The homeless are not a problem to be solved, but people. Remember that Jesus was homeless. He lived by gifts and generosity of those around him. His priorities shocked everyone. Most people were not attracted by Jesus.
Isaiah 53:2-5
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected– a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed!
And yet our salvation rests in the hands of the homeless one– who has been exalted into heaven to the highest place. The homeless Jesus, now in heaven, loves us and longs for us to care for others as He does.
The Starbucks cup could have been thrown away by someone else and this man simply dug it out of the trash to use it as a way of collecting change. He could have been given the coffee by a kind-hearted man or woman. We simply do not know. I understand why judgement can lead us to the wrong conclusions but satan sure makes it easy to do because you can do it so quickly. We can all win the Gold Medal in “Jumping to Conclusions.” Yet Jesus wants us to take a second look – a longer look, a look into the eyes of the wounded and broken-hearted. Only then will we be able to listen to them and give them a sense of dignity, compassion, and hope – a feeling that someone cares. A feeling that they have value. Don’t we all want to feel that way?
I’m glad someone shared my first thought about that Starbuck’s cup, Cynthia. After working with many homeless persons in a mental health setting I learned many of the characteristics of the population first hand. Even those who may be suffering from mentall illness or using drugs are NOT stupid! Many are quite resourceful in managing to survive in the street’s rough conditions. Many are quite good at reading people as well. They appreciate genuineness and can smell a condescending attitude from down the block.
Try on a different perspective—
We too are homeless, spiritually speaking. God sent His “only begotten son” to share our plight and show us a different way of living. When He left to go back to His own home He left His apostles to establish a homeless shelter for us. When we find that shelter what we want is to feel a sense of belongingness and being nurtured. While here we want to walk and share the Way to our real, eternal home.