Behind the Sign
His eyes were a piercing blue. I might never have known.
On Sunday, our church supplied everyone with a ‘care package’ of sorts for us to give to a homeless person or someone with similar need. The cinch sacks contained a blanket for a cold night, a fresh pair of socks, some granola bars, a beanie, a small gift card and a water bottle. Stowing it in the car makes it ready for giving when the need presents itself. One morning this week, as we left to run errands, I nearly took it out of the car because it was something of a nuisance underfoot.
But I didn’t.
As we looped around town, checking off our list items one by one, I didn’t realize my kids were on the lookout for a recipient. And they found one: a man, sitting on the far side of the intersection where I was turning right. His cardboard sign read “Homeless. Veteran. God bless.” The kids begged me to stop.
But I didn’t.
I turned my car, and my heart, away from his need. My list wasn’t yet finished. I didn’t want to circle back… it was inconvenient. We ducked quickly into the next store. I identified the item we had come to purchase and hastily slapped my debit card on the counter. Dashing back to the car, they asked again, “Mama, can we go back and give it to him? Please?”
I relented. Reluctantly, at first, as I was still thinking only of what remained to get done. We pulled into a nearby parking lot and, together, walked toward him with the package.
The simple contents of the bag were of great encouragement to him. He was injured while working and has since lost everything he owned. He’s had some success in finding occasional day- and week-long jobs, but is still digging out of the financial carnage. He sleeps outside and worries about having enough food to eat. We talked for a while; he engaged my children in conversation and inquired about us, too.
Whether his story is unique or not, whether it is riddled with embellishment (or even fallacy) or not, ceased to be of any concern to me.
What struck me so deeply was his humanity.
As we spoke, I looked him in the eyes. They were a brilliant royal blue, striking against the backdrop of his tanned skin and unshaven cheeks. He looked me in the eyes, as well, and we exchanged a thoroughly civil and enjoyable conversation. Connection. Between two people.
As we parted, I wished him well. And I meant it. I no longer saw merely a cardboard sign advertising a need. Now I saw a man. A man who Jesus loves ferociously. I was so thankful to have had something to give him. And so chastened by my reticence to deliver a gift (one I had no part in purchasing) for the mere inconvenience of it. To my great shame, I deemed myself too busy spending my money on superfluous items to stop to meet his very real relational and physical needs.
As Jesus marked His steps to Jerusalem to face the cross, a blind man shouted for Him just outside Jericho, begging for his sight (Mark 10:46-52). Despite the magnitude of what lay ahead of Jesus, how daunting His task, He stopped, called for Bartimaeus and healed him. He didn’t consider Bartimaeus an inconvenience. He didn’t consider Bartimaeus a disruption to His to-do list.
Because Jesus sees the man.
Lord, give me your eyes. Let me be your hands and feet.
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking
in daily food, and one of you says to them,
“Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without
giving them the things needed for the body,
what good is that? So also faith by itself,
if it does not have works, is dead.
— James 2:15-17 ESV
Good for you, Kirsten. It’s so easy to hustle through the day, checking things off the list. (I’m one of the guiltiest) What a great idea to keep a goodie pack in the car! You’re setting a wonderful example for your kids.
Good for you, Kirsten. It’s so easy to hustle through the day, checking things off the list. (I’m one of the guiltiest) What a great idea to keep a goodie pack in the car! You’re setting a wonderful example for your kids.
Good for you, Kirsten. It’s so easy to hustle through the day, checking things off the list. (I’m one of the guiltiest) What a great idea to keep a goodie pack in the car! You’re setting a wonderful example for your kids.
Susan, it’s a great service project to do with youth groups or even just friends: have everybody bring one kind of item in bulk and then spend a hour or so assembling them. We’ve done this numerous times – fellowship and ministry!
Kristen, this is an awesome post. Thank you so much for sharing. If you get a chance, check out http://www.GiveBag.org we put together care packages for people to pass out to the homeless.
Kristen, this is an awesome post. Thank you so much for sharing. If you get a chance, check out http://www.GiveBag.org we put together care packages for people to pass out to the homeless.
Kristen, this is an awesome post. Thank you so much for sharing. If you get a chance, check out http://www.GiveBag.org we put together care packages for people to pass out to the homeless.
Will totally check that out, Adam! Thanks for the link – and your ministry.
Kirsten – so humbling. A friend told me the other day about a circumstance when the were floating the river and a tube got hooked on a log. Out of nowhere, a man who appeared to be homeless, came and asked if she needed help. She called him her “river angel.” I also will never forget the time my life was literally saved by a homeless man. I don’t understand homelessness, but I do know we are called to be a compassionate people. For the person who stops and notices and helps, God has tremendous blessings in store. And we should never forget, should we, that that homeless person could be an angel in disguise. Thank you for sharing. That homeless “kit” we put together all those years ago (or the experiences is birthed) is not easily forgotten.
You’re right, Jeannette: called to be compassionate. Succinctly, and powerfully, said. Thanks!
Kirsten – so humbling. A friend told me the other day about a circumstance when the were floating the river and a tube got hooked on a log. Out of nowhere, a man who appeared to be homeless, came and asked if she needed help. She called him her “river angel.” I also will never forget the time my life was literally saved by a homeless man. I don’t understand homelessness, but I do know we are called to be a compassionate people. For the person who stops and notices and helps, God has tremendous blessings in store. And we should never forget, should we, that that homeless person could be an angel in disguise. Thank you for sharing. That homeless “kit” we put together all those years ago (or the experiences is birthed) is not easily forgotten.
You’re right, Jeannette: called to be compassionate. Succinctly, and powerfully, said. Thanks!
[…] In those terms, I’m think I’m guilty of keeping the toy I want to continue to play with, no more mature than a toddler. It’s tempting to give to God only what I am happy to give, selected carefully from the array of wealth I sit in the midst of everyday. I’m even conniving enough to veil my selfishness in regularly written checks and occasional generosity toward a man by the side of the road. […]
[…] In those terms, I’m think I’m guilty of keeping the toy I want to continue to play with, no more mature than a toddler. It’s tempting to give to God only what I am happy to give, selected carefully from the array of wealth I sit in the midst of everyday. I’m even conniving enough to veil my selfishness in regularly written checks and occasional generosity toward a man by the side of the road. […]