I have to begin this blog with a little bit of interesting observation. I have been here since Sunday and just about each day that I have been at Rising Hope someone has asked me to sign in, or asked what they could help me with...whether I needed the clothing closet, the food pantry, or a meal. So this has brought me to two realizations:
1. The way I look and the way I dress means I look fairly normal, although, my beard is starting to get long.
2. That the homeless community that I am here to serve is not at all different than I am.
So while the first may hit me in my ego because I think I look cool and hip...The second reminds me that the culture here is really no different than I am. We are all God's children and we all look awesome to God. God created us and fashioned us in His image and I love the fact that wherever I go, we are all part of God's Body in this world.
I sat down at lunch today next to a really big guy who looks to be about 21 years old and he said to me, "You don't look much like a pastor, you look more like a tattoo artist." This guy opened up to me about some struggles that he had and that he had to leave his parents. His dad made him laser tattoos off his body and his mom always put him down saying that he was too fat and that he would never amount to anything. I had the chance to tell him that he was fearfully and wonderfully made and that no matter what we have done or what we have become that God will love us and want to have a relationship with us. I shared a little of my testimony with him and told him about my friend, Jesus. He said he had a hole in his heart that he has been trying to fill for a long time but he has a hard time wrapping his heart and mind around faith. He said, "You see, living out in the streets, you know what's coming. You either get all messed up or you die. There is an outcome that you can see. But with God, it's all about trust, faith, and a promise...and I don't know if I can live without the possibility of knowing exactly where I am heading."
What I realized was that the way his parents treated him and the years on the streets and short times in jail have sucked the hope right out of his life and his heart. What becomes of a life when you literally cannot dream? No Hope...But he comes to Rising Hope Church and one day the Hope may rise up within his heart. I hope some things I said today may have stuck with him. Thank you God for the ability to be your instrument of hope and peace!
That conversation continues to weigh on my heart...so I think I am going to stop there for the night and share with y'all tomorrow night (but I am going on my Police ride-along from 8 pm - midnight on Saturday so it may be a late post...
Esperanza!!
Pastor Scot
No comments:
Post a Comment