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On recent vacation to Portugal and Spain, we encountered many street people like this woman shown in the picture above. Some were the typical bedraggled, dirty, disheveled and often aggressive homeless just like we encounter here in the U.S. Some were like this woman, neatly and tidily dressed, humble in posture and presentation. I observed her and many like her sit or kneel silently without movement for hours at a time. Hers was a quiet and unpretentious appeal. In our two weeks abroad, I am sure we encountered hundreds as we toured these two fascinating countries. In each of these encounters I had to wrestle with: “Is this a professional scammer or is there a real need that I’m called to help with? What is my role here?”
‘Twas the night before Christmas Eve 2019 here at First Lutheran. Our entire staff and a whole fleet of volunteers were scurrying back and forth in a furious frenzy of frantic activity to prepare for the grand opening of our new worship center the next evening for Christmas Eve. Our staff was running on empty from months of preparations, shuffling rooms to make way for construction, learning new systems, attending meeting after meeting, and continual adjusting on the fly to adapt to all the ongoing changes. We were tired and worn. The pressure and build up to make the opening happen on time had us all on edge, and nerves were frazzled.
A crew of six of us were busy tearing off plastic wrapping from stacks of brand-new chairs and then carting them into the New Celebration Center worship space with two wheeled dollies. Sweat beaded on my brow from the intensity of movement, pressure and work-load. In the midst of all this chaotic movement, a young man in his 20’s showed up looking for help. He looked a bit ragged and tired, and claimed to be without a home. He just needed a place to rest and maybe get some food. His name was Dylan. The darkness and cold outside from our harsh December winter had reddened his cheeks, nose, and ears. He was poorly and minimally dressed for the cold. My inner silent dialogue was far less Christ-like; “Dude, can’t you see we’re busy here! We got big important stuff to do! Why did you pick today to show up?” The crazy juxtaposition of our desire to “shine the apple” or look good with our new building and this man’s simple need for food and shelter was rather glaring. Once again, I had to wrestle with: “Is this a scammer or is there a real need that I’m/we are called to help with? After all, what is my/ our role here?"
During this COVID crisis I have received many personalized appeals for financial help via the internet. Some are connections and contacts from our many mission trips in Mexico. Some folks I’ve know personally, from working along-side of them, others only via recent connections on Social Media. The virus and its ramifications have had strong economic impacts on many of us here in the U.S. I felt this personally with all of my school retreats being canceled. Amplify that ten-fold in less stable countries with less resources or strong infrastructure from their governments. With each appeal, I have had to wrestle. “Is this a scammer or is there a real need that I’m called to help with my own resources or that of the church? After all, what is my/our role here?"
I don’t have an easy, tight, compact formula for you. We as a downtown church staff wrestle with this daily as we deal with the homeless and walk-ins each week. And each trip I make down Broadway to Sandy's Donut shop I am confronted with the same issue. I’m guessing that there is no easy answer, no one formula fits all situations. Maybe it is simply about staying connected to the Holy Spirit via prayer throughout our days and seeking His wisdom and discernment in all we do. Praying for a kind, compassionate, and wise spirit within us.
I do know that we have been blessed to be a blessing. We are to use the gifts of time, money, talents and resources that we have been given freely, to pass on and bless others. The words generosity and compassion come continually to my mind. I am often quick to judge the outer cover of a book that crosses my path. Those harsh judgments are a blockage to both my generosity and compassion. I need eyes and heart-vision to see beyond what I can not see. I can’t do that without the Holy Spirit living in and working through me.
And when my day comes to meet Jesus one-on-one, face to face on the other side… I wonder what he will have to say to me about what I have done with what was given to me?
May you be generous, kind and compassionate and may the Holy Spirit fill you with Godly wisdom, discernment and heart-vision.
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