Over 30 years ago, new to America, I was both surprised and moved by the sight of homeless here.
I remember an occasion when I asked my husband if we could share our leftovers with them.
It was Springtime in San Francisco. We were newly married and enjoying our honeymoon.
An old lady was rummaging for food at a public trash bin.
Without fanfare or announcement, he walked over to her and asked gently, “Ma’am, have you eaten?”
I knew then I had married the right guy.
When one of our sons did something similar recently, I felt again gladdened by God’s comforting hand toward us (me).
Righteousness – how much do you think you really have?
A church goer or someone with a Christian affiliation would tell you they have none.
Not sure where your Christian heart bleeds?
Try spending time in a place where there’s a lot of homeless.
Take your pick – every major American city has them.
Encounters with the homeless is a useful exercise in becoming aware of the state of your heart.
How would your pas de deux with the homeless look like?
(Mural in downtown Houston, Title: “Pas de deux”)
Do you talk about them like they are a separate entity?
Or do you try to do a pas de deux with them? One that returns them their self dignity?
I now understand why so many flee from the cities of America.
Our own world is horrific enough. We don’t want to see more.
This past summer and now, Ron and I are spending time in our American cities.
I didn’t intentionally seek to see the homeless in our country.
When it found me, I had to look. Really look.
I was at first frightened, then dismayed.
Angry and then overcome with a deep sadness.
I read about what fellow Americans and local governments do to help.
And I pitched in my share.
But the other day, while walking around Houston, I found myself unmoved to do anything much for two homeless people.
Strive Righteously
So when I witnessed how a friend treated a homeless kindly the other day, I was grateful for her example.
Life is hard to bear at times.
Some places and I’ll be first to report from the frontlines are scary to visit.
But I’ll take another example from another group of Christians I came across.
This time in front of City Hall in downtown Houston. At 8:30 pm in the evening on a weeknight.
Senor! Senor! Senor!
A group of people sings – young and old. They repeated this refrain in their song.
They sang in Spanish but it hit me quickly that they were singing to our Father in heaven.
Any true righteousness, or any striving toward it, I realize starts with a contrite and humble heart.
That is always a good start for anyone endeavoring to live a good and happy life.
