Homelessness is not new, but we often try to fix it with modern, systemic solutions. Maybe there is another solution. Planting seeds of help for the homeless could start with seeing them with God’s eyes of love.
In the days of affliction and homelessness, Jerusalem remembers all the treasures that were hers which have now been given away for food. No one helps and they laugh at her ruin and she has become a filthy thing. There is not any pain like her pain. She did not think of her future, so she has fallen in an astonishing way. She asks for bread but languishes in the city streets and faints like the wounded. She who used to eat delicacies is made to tremble in the streets and embrace garbage heaps. She is dirty and not recognized in the streets. Her skin is shriveled and dry on her bones. She wastes away. She even calls herself unclean. People she has sought refuge with say, “She shall not continue to reside with us.” Images and phrases from Lamentations 1-5.
Homelessness is not a modern phenomenon. Lamentations was written by Jeremiah, the prophet of God, in the 6th century before Christ. This book of the Bible is known for its imagery and poetic brilliance. Jerusalem and the temple were judged by God and destroyed by the Babylonians. They felt their rejection by God deeply. The whole nation was homeless. In our current age, our homeless population is increasing. In our day-to-day life, we usually come face to face with it. What is your honest response?
What does it feel like to be homeless? Paula Dyan, a social worker, systematically asked this question of her homeless clients. What I wrote below adopts the most common words she reports they use:
How do I feel? I feel humiliated, unwanted, like a pariah around other people, and I feel so alienated from real life. This experience is so emotionally shattering that I have low self-esteem and my moral compass is battered. I am rootless and unstable. I feel naked, vulnerable and unsafe. I am faced with danger daily and I am always scared. Noise and chaos rule the night. I don’t trust anyone. There is no privacy and I would rather be dirty in unclean clothes than expose any part of me. I am not healthy. There are constant obstacles to doing even the simplest things I used to do, and I have a tough time focusing. The stress from trying to find water, food, shelter, and a bathroom each day is overwhelming and some days I don’t have the energy to do even that. I am depressed and I don’t trust my own judgment. The days I have some get up and go and fire in my belly, it quickly shows up as frustration, anger and bitterness.
No matter how they got there, the homeless are here and they are probably not going to be re-homed or find their true home without help. My life group started packing bags and backpacks with items they might need. We keep them in our cars and when we are out and about and see someone in need on the street, we give it to them. Nothing big, but packed with God’s love and lots of prayer!
What might you do?
Don’t judge.
Show respect, look them in the eye and say, Hi!
Talk to them and tell them about God’s love, showing His love in your eyes as you do.
Bring some food.
Give a few dollars.
Volunteer for an organization that helps.
Get on a Call Me When list for intermittent help.
Pray.
How might you use the blessings God has given you to plant seeds of help for the homeless?
Father God, I know how much it pains You to see Your children hurting. Thank You for all the resources You have blessed me with. I want to be a blessing for others. Help me plant seeds and not just sit in the farmhouse. Show me when to step out into Your harvest field. Amen.
happy hunger 
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