Where do you live?

There is a friend of ours that we have met since coming down to NOLA.

She lives on the street.

Not because she got up one morning and decided to chuck her suburban life, and go for some adventure; not because she is lazy, and just doesn't want to work and take care of herself and family,
not because she is rebelling and trying to prove a point,
she is on the street because of sin.

Someone sinned against her, and in this broken world, found herself trying to survive out on the street.

Let me break it down for y'all. 

It was below freezing last night--36 during the day, 26 degree wind chill here, with some rain, sleet, and what-not.  She tries to work, and that means she is up at 5 am, after trying to sleep on a porch, close to the road so she won't get mugged or worse, yet far enough off to avoid getting chased away by the cops or shipped somewhere else (its Mardis Gras--city needs to look good, homeless gotta leave...) 

By the by, where does one go when one is homeless, aka don't got no home, and you are kicked out of a place that you were trying to sleep safely in?  Just wondering

At the job site, the guys are picked first--she doesn't have all her teeth, thanks to sin, so even though she is a great cook and hard worker, she is passed up.  Guys that she could work circles around get picked.  it's 9--wondering if there's gonna be any food.

She is propositioned, offered drugs--but declines.  It's hard to find a safe place as a woman on the streets--and the beds in the shelters fill up faster for women than men.  She can't get money, and if she doesn't find at least 5 dollars, she'll be on the street again. 

If she did do drugs, she could get in rehab...but she doesn't want that.

If she was willing to take a trick or two, she could have money, and be allowed in a shelter for prostitutes, she definitely doesn't want that. 

By the time we catch up with her, it's anywhere between 3-7 pm.  Normally she hasn't eaten, couldn't find work, or like last week got some work, but when the job was done, the person refused to pay her...who is she going to turn to to defend that, it's a side job?

She loves our kids, is kind to us, prays for us, and loves God and is wrestling not only with real life issues, but also the nightmare of living on the street.

Now, I want you to stop for a moment and take a deep breath, and ask God to help you to hear Him honestly.

Did you bristle at all during this story, and find a way, or an excuse to try and blame this woman?

If so, why?  You don't know her.  You don't even know her back story? 

What keeps us from caring for folks in need?  What keeps us from missing them?  What keeps us from loving them.

She gets a safe place to stay, a warm bed, and food for $5.  For a bit more, some dental work.  For a bit of help, an ID and a chance to get some aid.  For a phone call from a friend with a connection, a chance to get into a lottery to have a place funded by the state, with opportunities to work, get healthy, and get back on her feet--like she was just a season of life ago.

Wouldn't that be something that Jesus would have us do? 

Do you have an extra $5?  A day?

What if it was for someone that you loved, who was stuck? 

Jesus told us to love our neighbors--and defined the neighbor as the one racial enemy that Israel hated and wanted nothing to do with....don't forget, while we were yet God's enemies, He rescued us by giving all....His Son.  Not $5 dollars, His Son. 

What if it was you who needed help?  What if you were suddenly homeless, and all of the sudden no one knew you by your name anymore, but called you the homeless person..who smells, and is dirty, and looks crazy.  (why don't you go for 3 days sleeping outside on a street with no shower and see how pretty you are)

Take a moment, please.  Read the story of our friend again, and put your name, or the name of your loved one there....your neighbor, you enemy...Jesus' name there.

Does that change anything?