Sometimes in my voracious reading appetite I come across a compelling portrait, a thumb-nail biographic profile of an interesting person. This person was known as “Rings”. A street name, presumably. No clue what his actual name was, where he was born, or how old he was. His “residence” was most often the cab of his pickup truck. He was a chain smoker, ex-convict, addict, alcoholic. His credo was that if Jesus was able to save him, He could save anybody. He would get a check once a month from the government, but instead of spending it on booze or even a hotel room, he would take the money to the grocery store, load up the coolers in the bed of his truck, and go to the beach. There he would make meals for his fellow homeless. While preparing the food Rings told everyone about the unconditional love of Jesus. Rings did this because he knew that everything came from God.

Oh, how I wish I could be more like Rings! How often I take for granted what God blesses me with. How rarely I am reluctant to share even from my abundance, let alone my scarcity. Have you ever observed a small group of homeless together say, at a shelter waiting outside? They typically care for each other (when they aren’t yelling at each other, speaking the truth in love). They help each other. I am perpetually amazed that, given their circumstances, they often seem more inclined to be this way than we are. Each of us is wired differently, with experiences and upbringings unique. I pray none of you experiences the cruelty, the hell of homelessness. When basic, fundamental human rights are unavailable or unattainable, God works miracles of sheer survivability. The more you have, the harder it is to empathize.

This blog is not meant to incur guilt or shame on us “privileged” ones, but to see more broadly the all-encompassing mercy of God, saving us poor wretches with His amazing grace.  

Pastor Art