Homeless

In a couple of hours, Patrick and I will go downtown with a group of people to serve a meal on the sidewalk as we have done for the past several years. At first every Saturday and now every Sunday, as there are two groups who feed at 3:30 now. We used to walk up and down Tryon street with paper bags trying to find people to serve. Word gets around fast and now we have a line of people waiting for us when we get there. Patrick and I in our new married life have been seeking what God's mission is for our marriage. We don't feel as though we are anywhere close to having this figured out, as walking with God is a journey and His mission for us is a journey. However, severing the homeless has taken on a whole new meaning for me lately: My dad is currently homeless.

It's a really long story. One in which I don't wish to get into all the details because one it would take too long and two it's not really necessary for you to get my point. Patrick and I went to visit my family for Thanksgiving. I hadn't seen or talked to my Dad since April. I got married in August. I walked down the isle by myself. He was in jail the day I got married for back child support. Not an unusual occurrence. I had heard that he chose to go happily for six months because then they couldn't pick him up anymore for it. I was so hurt and mad when I had heard this. I wasn't sure if he would come anyway because of dynamics with our family, but still.

I decided to put down my hurt feelings and try to see him while I was in town. I had heard he was staying at the shelter downtown, which is where he's been since he was released from jail. I went to the library because my grandmother had said I might be able to find him there. Since it was a holiday, the library was closed until Sunday. Patrick and I started to walk back to the car when Patrick saw my dad walking down the street. I would have completely missed him.

We went to a place downtown to share an appetizer. He didn't want a meal. They feed dinner at the shelter, which he had to be back to at 4pm. His spirit was melancholy. He shared a little about his experience is jail. He was sad and angered that he missed our wedding (not exactly the story I had been told originally). It was good to see him, but hard. Patrick and I walked him almost all the way down the street to where the shelter is. I asked if he wanted to get breakfast with us in the morning and he agreed. That night we bought him a new pair of shoes, undershirts, long johns, ear plugs, and some other things he might need and or want. It was so strange going to purchase all of these things for my dad. Over the years there have been many times where we have done this for one of our homeless friends. Not family. If you could, dear blogger community (if there is one? Not sure that anyone but maybe my husband reads this anymore) will you please pray for him? He is looking for a job, but his situation makes it very difficult for him to find one.

This whole situation has certainly given me a new perspective on serving the homeless community in Charlotte. Anyone of those people could be just like my dad. It has rekindled a passion that has sometimes struggled with feelings of monotony after so many years and a feeling of helplessness in really being able to help them.


A few of Sunday's ago, some old friends of ours invited us to their church because Derek Webb was going to be there. Derek has been one of my favorite artists for many years. I've seen many shows over the years, but it had been a really long time. I really like a lot of his thoughts and ideas when it comes to Africa, the Church, loving your neighbors, politics, etc. He talked some about politics since the church was wrapping up a long series about the politics of Jesus. You can read a really good article by him, in my opinion, here about voting.

He also briefly touched on a subject I have been thinking about and agree with completely which is the idea that it's not the governments responsibility to take care of the poor. That's not to say we shouldn't agitate our government to do so, however it is my belief this is The Church's responsibility more so than the governments. I think my energy is better spent working in unity with The Church to take care of the least of these than to lobby the government to do it for me/us.

There are a lot of churches that do a really good job of taking care of the poor, but there are just as many if not more that do not. I feel God teaching me, tugging at me, challenging me to be more generous period. When this thought comes to me originally I feel like I need to go back to boot camp of filling my entire life up with serving/volunteering somewhere, but He is freeing me of those thoughts lately. Something I learned in a study I did said, "God cares more about what you become than what you do." That has stuck with me because for so long I have been so much more focused on doing than being. I know I have talked about that before on this blog, but I still have so much more to learn and more changing to go through and will ever be learning and changing until I die. I just keep trying to remind myself of this and then just let go of the empty doing. Not that they aren't good things, but if I am doing more than I'm becoming, what's the point?? I think I'll end this random and ridiculously long blog now. These are just my latest thoughts and wrestling's. I hope all is well with you and yours this Christmas season. Patrick and I had a Christmas party Friday, so hopefully this week I'll post some pictures from that. Til next time....