Our homeless friends not far from the downtown jail began to gather around as we arrived for our usual weekly visit. We were saying hello and catching up on how everyone was doing, seeing what’s new.
One of the guys, Booker T, pulled me aside and asked me to walk with him. “Here it comes,” I told myself, expecting the shakedown. “Hey…would you do me favor?” Yup, definitely gonna hit me up for money. “What’s up?,” I replied as non-committal as possible. “My brothers got cancer. Some pan…” “Pancreatic?” I offered suspiciously wondering why he didn’t know what his brother had. “Yeah! Yeah, pancreatic cancer.” “Wow,” I thought, “he’s pulling out the big guns.” So the money he’s asking for is going to be for gas money to go visit his brother or to buy medicine. Wink, wink. “So will you do me a favor?” “Alright,” I braced myself.
“Will you pray for my brother?”
Ugh.
“Of course I will,” I eagerly answered, trying not to look shocked and embarrassed.
We prayed together and I shared with Booker T about my dad’s cancer. “Are you serious?” he asked. “Out of all the guys here tonight I chose you to talk to about this. You know where I’m coming from.” Yeah.
How we perceive the men, women and children who are without a home and living on the streets will determine how we will act toward them. Our preconceived notions serve as protective shields allowing us to keep these folks safely at a distance. I perceived Booker T as a scam artist but he perceived me as a friendly guy who might pray for him and his sick brother.
We’ve decided that:
…homeless people are dangerous so we stay away from them, won’t go near them.
…they’ll use the money to buy drugs or alcohol so we don’t give them anything.
…they should go get a job rather than standing around begging so we look away, angered by their mere presence.
We feel guilty, angry, or ashamed so we pressure the government to:
…bus the homeless to other cities.
…make it illegal to sleep on the streets or sidewalks.
…pass inane ordinances prohibiting regular folks from handing a hungry person a sandwich.
…block permanent housing proposals because they might drive down property values.
We unwittingly reduce and obscure their humanity by our preconceived notions, expectations and fears before we have even looked one of them in the eye or asked them how we can help. Or does the possibility of helping even cross our minds?
Let’s be real. Some people who are homeless may be violent. Many of them are addicts. Yes, they may use your money to buy cheap whiskey and vodka. Plenty of them have become quite good at running scams for money. A few of them actually have apartments and panhandle because its better money and more flexible than a 9-5 job.
But…
How will you know unless you find out? How will you find out unless you talk to them? Maybe even spend time with them regularly and get to know them a little bit?
I’ve re-read Jesus’s teachings and warnings about how we ought to treat the poor among us and I haven’t found the exception clauses yet.
- Go…make disciples of all the nations…except among the homeless because they are dirty and smell like crap. Matthew 28:19
- Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. Except for those lazy homeless people who should have been out looking for work. You did the right thing by not giving them something to eat and drink or clothing them. Matthew 25:31-46
- But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. But do not invite the homeless for they do not deserve this kindness. Luke 14:13-14
We can’t let our pre-conceived notions keep us from reaching out. Those who are homeless will often surprise you with their kindness, forthrightness and willingness to talk with you. And even if they don’t, I can promise you that they could certainly use a warm blanket and clean clothes. But you won’t find out unless you take that first step toward demonstrating the love and mercy of Christ to the poor among us such as those who are homeless. And that first step may never be taken unless we decide to examine the preconceived notions that are allowing us to keep the poor at arm’s length.
I expected Booker T to hit me up for money that night. Granted, some of the men and women we meet do ask us for money but the ones who have come to know us over time have moved beyond that. Booker just wanted someone to pray for him and talk with him as he reminisced about good times with his brother. I learned a good lesson that night.
Booker called us a few days ago. His brother lost his battle with cancer. We’re thankful that he thought to call us and we mourn with him in his loss.
