"Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions."
Proverbs 10:12 And so we are called to love our enemies, love our neighbors, love our families, love ourselves, love the world, love the creatures of this world, and most importantly love the Creator of this world and all the universes known and unknown. If we can do that, we would have no time to hate one another, or kill one another, or steal from one another, or hoard from one another, or lie to one another, or betray one another. Our wealth would be tied to how we love, and we would become richer than any millionare who built a fortune of material wealth but lost his soul doing it. Our pockets would never be empty and our hands would always be full. Work diligently from the heart where love abounds, and let your wealth grow as it overflows with generosity, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and love. Henri Nouwen wrote this reminder for us on how to live a nonjudgmental life
"One of the hardest spiritual tasks is to live without prejudices. Sometimes we aren't even aware how deeply rooted our prejudices are. We may think that we relate to people who are different from us in colour, religion, sexual orientation, or lifestyle as equals, but in concrete circumstances our spontaneous thoughts, uncensored words, and knee-jerk reactions often reveal that our prejudices are still there. Strangers, people different than we are, stir up fear, discomfort, suspicion, and hostility. They make us lose our sense of security just by being "other." Only when we fully claim that God loves us in an unconditional way and look at "those other persons" as equally loved can we begin to discover that the great variety in being human is an expression of the immense richness of God's heart. Then the need to prejudge people can gradually disappear." This was taken from a daily meditation that came in my email. Once again, I am not amazed that God would use today's advanced technology to help me work out my thoughts (as rough as they are) for the betterment of the world. Meditate: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you; through God we are empowered to live a non-judgmental life. Pray for If you are like me, you find it hard not to judge. In fact, I find it almost impossible. I don't mean to do it, it just happens that way. I see someone and already my mind has filled in the blanks of who they are, what they are, how they are, etc. Yes, it is totally not fair, and I would hate people to think that about me. But I fear they do.
When you see a homeless person or someone who looks homeless, what is your first thought? Do you ask how they got there? What's wrong with them that they have to live that way? Do you blame them or society for their predicament? How can you help to reverse such an ingrained pattern of thought? I would suggest the one who is able to greet a stranger with kindness, in both though, word, and deed, is the one who is able to set his or her mind on God's interest and not their own. Why is that important? Read: Mark 8:34-38. The Desert Fathers said that judging others is a heavy burden, while being judged by others is a light one. Once we can let go of our need to judge others, we will experience an immense inner freedom. Once we are free from judging, we will be also free for mercy. Let's remember Jesus' words: "Do not judge, and you will not be judged" (Matthew 7:1-12). Meditate: In everything I do, I will treat people the same way I want them to treat me; in my thoughts, in my words, and in my deeds. Pray for those who are not like me, for the unfortunate who live not like I do but on the streets and in shelters, and pray that God will help me to remember that God alone is the judge who has called upon each one of us to help one another in times of need. This was the verse of the day:
Romans 8:35 NLT "Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?" What do you think the answer is? I think that in the ugliness of the world, when everything looks as if the apocalypse has come, we must not forget the love that keeps us connected to a world where troubles and calamities and danger and death have no sting. How do we participate in this other world Kingdom? Jesus reminds us that it begins with love. God's love for you. Your love for God and for each other. If we love each other we will look out for one another. If we do that then people will not go hungry, the destitute will have hope and salvation; here and in some distant realm. To end homelessness is to be in the Kingdom of God, which is at hand right now. To end homelessness will take looking out for each other as God looks out for us. Family, friends, and even strangers all have a place in the Kingdom, just some need more help than others to get there. Are you willing to help those in trouble, those who face calamity, persecution, hunger, destitution, danger or death? Meditate: How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble. The Lord will protect him and keep him alive. And he shall be called blessed upon the earth; and do not give him over to the desires of his enemies. The Lord will sustain him upon his sick bed; in his illness thou dost restore him to health. As for me, I said, "O Lord, be gracious to me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee." (Psalm 41:1-4) Pray for the forgiveness and the strength that comes only from God in heaven; and for the destitute and hungry brothers and sisters living and dying on the streets that they might find comfort from the ugliness of the world, and shelter from the storms of life. May they find mercy instead of prosecution. Archbishop Rowen Williams wroting on social justice in the current economy:
"Morally, protectionism implicitly accepts that wealth maintained at the cost of the neighbour's disadvantage or worse is a tolerable situation – which is a denial of the belief that what is good for humanity is ultimately coherent or convergent. Such a denial is a sinister thing, since it undermines the logic of assuming that what the other finds painful I should find painful too – a basic element of what we generally consider maturely or sanely ethical behaviour. Practically, protectionism is another instance of short-term vision, securing prosperity here by making prosperity impossible somewhere else; in a global context, this is inexorably a factor in ultimately shrinking potential markets." This raises a few question: Does giving someone a home to live in help increase or decrease the economy? Is it only money that we need to worry about? If so, what is the price of a human? Are we priced differently? Are some worth more than others? How much would it cost to buy you? Meditate: (Proverbs 22:7) "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) Pray for those who are trapped between making ends meet and living on the streets and that God will use the wealth of this nation to help those in need. Do something about it. The best way to get rid of homelessnin your city is to get rid of the problem all together. I would encourage everyone to become an activist for the homeless population in your neighborhood. It is easier than moving someplace else.
I found this 2009 article on Huffington Post that might kick start your effort. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/11/how-to-advocate-for-the-h_n_283943.html And for the corporate or businesses minded philanthropist: http://www.causecast.com/about-us/the-causecast-story-for-nonprofit-fundraising/ Meditate: (1 John 2:9-11) 9. The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. Prayer: Open our hands and mouth as you open our hearts and our mind, and remember today the National Allience to End Homelessness, and all the activist who work diligently to bring justice to all in need of some place to call home. I just spent the day crafting a 3,000 word minimum paper of how to end homelessness, and completely forgot to read my blog for any good hints. So, I write this suggestion: why don't we just give them homes?
Meditate: Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. Pray for someone you love. This story was sent to me this morning and sums up how strangers helping a stranger lead to a remarkable story and life long lesson of God's love working through the oddest of situations. After you enjoy the story, take a moment to think about those you have met and how Fod was or was not present in that moment.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/28/we-found-our-son-in-the-subway/ Meditate: Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2) Pray for Enrique, who I met washing up in the bathroom at my school last night, and pray for his peace now that God has found him a bed in a group home and financial help through SSI; pray that he finds his weekly check and that he never return to the brutality he faced living on the streets. |
Ian MacdonaldAn ex-copywriter turned punk rock pastor and peacemaker who dedicates his life to making the world a better place for all humanity. "that they all might be one" ~John 17:21“Prius vita quam doctrina.”
~ St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) * “Life is more important than doctrine.”
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