The Homeless

I met a homeless man this morning. His name is Rich. When he introduced himself, he said, "I'm rich in spirit, not in money." I am bad at guessing ages, but I would say Rich is 55 years old. We spoke for a few minutes, where I learned that Rich was once a postal worker in Omaha, Neb, until alcohol did him in. He lost his home and job due to his alcoholism, spiraling him downward to the bottom of life. A few years ago, he moved to San Antonio to begin again. Three years ago, Rich came to Travis Park UMC where he began to grow closer to God while attempting to recover his life. He's in the process. He sees his ministry as helping others who are homeless realize that God has a purpose for their lives as well. There's Rich, rich in spirit, not in money, who is attempting to recover his life while also helping others along the way. I am glad I met Rich today.

This morning during worship, I sat behind a homeless man. His name is John. John brings his own tambourine to worship, although he is not in the official praise band. He is however, the best tambourine player and most authentically enthusiastic worshipper I have ever met. He didn't miss a beat the entire worship service, and I should say, he added to my worship of God by being an example to follow of a worshipper on fire for Christ. John is homeless, but mentally he is brilliant. He has a photographic memory, he has drawn an entire map of Texas along with a detailed drawing of the human body including organs, muscles, etc., just from remembering pictures he saw in a book. John is bi-polar, which has led to his homelessness. But John lives with enthusiasm and hope because of Jesus Christ. I am glad I met John today.

We have a lot of stereotypes when we think of the homeless. But 22% of the homeless are employed at least 20 hours a week (not including day laborers or migrant workers, so this percentage is a bit higher), and 39% of homeless are children - hardly a picture of the dirty homeless man we picture in our minds when we think of homeless. Next time I pull through a drive-thru window, go to tip the waiter at the restaurant, or look at the kids coming out of the local high school, junior high, or elementary, it will cross my mind that this person just might be homeless.

Jesus calls us to reach out to the marginalized in our society. I am thankful for my encounters with John, Rich, and many others who have shown me that I have a long way to go to be the person that Christ has called me to be - a person on fire for Him.