The back seat of my car is already full to the headboard with clothes. Many have already been so generous.
What is it about homeless people that draws us and repels us at the same time? Isn’t it that we are not that far from each other? I think it’s a very thin line that separates the homeowner from the homeless – the sheltered from the unsheltered.
What Marti has found is a celebration of common humanity that transcends any lines or boundaries. Once you step over the line you find out it was only there in your mind anyway. This is certainly what this experience has taught me.
I think in some ways, this is the greater achievement in what she has done, and I don’t assume to speak for the other volunteers, but I can only guess they found this too. Not that Marti has helped the women of Isaiah House as much as she has brought all the rest of us over the line and shown us both the treasure that is to be found in our common humanity, and the needs that exist in our own lives. When it comes to charity work, there is always the question of who is helping whom.
Our fear of homelessness, especially in this economy, is great. Part of that fear is that we know deep down inside how thin the line is. The way to overcome that fear is not to shy away from the line, but to step over it and embrace your own need in embracing others.
We commonly call these people “less fortunate.” But maybe they are not. Maybe they are the fortunate ones. Maybe this is the blessing Jesus talked about that comes to the poor, the hungry, the persecuted. And maybe there is hope in us finding it too. Maybe it’s as easy as stepping over the line. After all, it’s a very thin line – so thin that once you step over it, you realize it wasn’t there at all.
John Fischer The Catch 
“What Marti has found is a celebration of common humanity that transcends any lines or boundaries. Once you step over the line you find out it was only there in your mind anyway. This is certainly what this experience has taught me.”
Don’t you think this true all the social stigmas we have – the prejudices, because that is what it is… a prejudice.
Sometimes I wonder if God puts people in our lives, to break down these walls…
My daughter is gay – a wall has crumbled…
I think it’s a wonderful ministry that God has called Marti to… May you both be blessed beyond your wildest imaginations.
Yes I do. Just as you have said.
My husband and I, along with a host of volunteers just did a Street Feed in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada on Sunday, June 5th. It was called Love Winnipeg which goes on for a week. People do random acts of kindness throughout the whole week, honoring different kinds of people. On Sunday it’s always love on the Street People/Homeless. This is our second year. Our job is to provide the meat for the feed. My husband goes to a Hutterite Colony and gets them to donate one pig and we buy another couple of pigs to have a big pig roast. The Colony cuts up the pig in quarters so we can BBQ it. The People absolutely LOVE this event!! And so do we.
I found myself with not much to do because of the amount of volunteers, it seemed like everyone had something to do but me. So I saw a table being filled up with cups of water and the verse about givng a cup of water in My Name came to mind so I started going around to give people a cup of water. Then I noticed those who were in wheel chairs and had canes so I got them to sit down and had someone deliver them a plate of food. I got to talk to a lot of people this way and I LOVED it!!!
I don’t see myself as different from the Street People at all. I love to serve and it doesn’t matter who I serve. I serve in my job as a Health Care Aide in my community. I serve at funerals in my Church, and I serve the Street People several times a year along with my husband. The joy that fills my heart is always there when I serve and I know I walk away from serving being more blessed then the ones I’ve served, I’m sure of it! And after doing it so often, we develop a relationship with many of the people too. My husband didn’t even get the truck parked when we arrived to feed the people and some guys ran up to the truck and shook our hands immediately and said, “Hey, I haven’t seen you in a while.” They were so happy to see us, and we were happy to see them too. 🙂
Keep doing what you’re doing at Isaiah House. If it brings you guys as much joy as I have when I’m serving people, God is defintely in it!!!
I appreciate you helping me see the very thin line we often draw in our minds. When I think of the family my wife and I have been trying to “come alongside”, sometimes I see the thin line; but at other times, I sense a great chasm between us – diet, discipline of children, housekeeping, character formation in upbringing, education, handling of finances, and more. We don’t seem so alike as you are suggesting….
Your Kingdom vision from a few days ago has stuck with me:
“And that is exactly what this is. This is the banquet where the invited guests were too busy to attend so the street people were brought in instead. This is the wedding at Cana with the best saved for the last. This is a foreshadowing of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb when forgiven sinners will sit astonished at the glorious provision made for them when they are still not quite sure how they got there. These are the workers walking away from a job with a full day’s pay stuffed in their pockets for one hour of work, not wanting to say anything to anybody for fear the mistake might be discovered and they’d have to give it back. This is the kingdom of God on earth and I wish you could be there to see it. There’s nothing quite like the look on these women’s faces when they discover what new surprise awaits them.”
Whether it’s a thin line or a seemingly uncrossable chasm, we rely on God’s grace and loving kindness to help us point to this Kingdom vision.