Valentines on the Street
Remember in second grade when we decorated shoe boxes with pink, red, and white and everyone went around and put valentines in everyone else's boxes? We didn't just pick out one person to recognize that day, we recognized everyone. Why isn't Valentine's Day like this after we reach our 20s? Why don't we show love to everyone, not just a significant other?
Lately I've had some strained and struggling relationships, so I wasn't feeling very loving leading up to Valentine's Day this year. I really just wanted it to be over so all of the commercials, songs on the radio, and decorated Target aisles would stop reminding me how lonely I felt. Most of all, I wanted healing in these relationships as soon as possible so I could feel happy again too. One day a couple of weeks ago I was on my way home after my classes, feeling sorry for myself, and I put my music on shuffle and waited for the music to start. What do you know, the song My Own Little World by Matthew West started playing through my headphones.
"Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours. Give me open hands and open doors. Put Your light in my eyes and let me see that my own little world is not about me."
God speaks to us in funny ways sometimes, and He definitely called me out right then. He sees the desires of our hearts, He finds us in our broken places, and He will provide us with exactly what we need in His way and in His time. So while we wait on Him to reveal to us what His plan is, we should remain active. What does He want us to do for Him?
I had money that I had set aside for Valentine's Day this year that I found myself not needing anymore. I thought back to that lyric from Matthew West and wondered how I could use this money outside of my own little world. As I thought about it, I remembered my dad telling me about a conversation he had had one night with a couple of homeless men on the streets of Indianapolis when temperatures were subzero and they were struggling just to survive the day. Maybe I could use this money to restore a little bit of hope in some of these people.
Barry Rodriguez, the founder and director of World Next Door, wrote about his experiences living on the streets for 4 days and 3 nights in Manhattan in the April 2013 WND magazine on poverty in the United States. What stuck out to me the most was his description of what it was like to panhandle, asking for money so he could have something to eat for the night. He recalled how the majority of people either didn't notice him or deliberately ignored him. "No wonder homeless people so often suffer from mental illnesses. I panhandled for probably a grand total of 45 minutes and even I wanted to stand up and shout, 'Hey! At least acknowledge me as a person!' Being ignored is a terrible, terrible feeling," Rodriguez stated.
People live this everyday. Everyday people on the streets are treated like they are worthless and not even worth a glance. I have heard some try to justify their treatment of the homeless by saying they probably made poor choices and now they're paying for it. Even if that's true, are these people not also people? Are they not also our brothers and sisters in Christ? Are they not loved by God as much as you and I are? Do they not deserve to be treated with the love and respect that we expect?
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." (1 John 3:16-18 NIV)
This is the verse that I read after I woke up Valentine's Day morning. I could not think of a better way to spend Valentine's Day than spreading love to the broken hearted. So I got up, went to the store with the money I had for Valentine's Day, and filled bags with food and toiletry items. My dad and I took the bags in the evening to the heart of downtown Indianapolis.
It didn't take long until we found Julian, huddled up on a stool in the slushy, dirty snow. As we talked with him he alluded to a disability and talked of how he hadn't been able to get a job lately. He never once asked us for money. Instead he told us about all of the ways that God has provided for him. A woman had bought him a coat and gloves and a man had given him a room to stay in. So when my dad handed him a bag, his eyes lit up and he immediately shook our hands saying 'God bless you.' God had provided for him once again.
We heard Joe all the way down the block. He was drumming on a bucket and had a smile that illuminated the corner. He just loved to play the drums and he used it as an honest way to make just enough money for a room in a hotel and a modest meal. His positivity with so little and lack of security for a meal and shelter didn't keep him from smiling and playing his drums with joy on a cold winter night.
The last man that we met was Harry. His eyes were fixed on the sidewalk as he shook a plastic cup with some coins in it. He told us how he had done different kinds of factory work but was laid off when the economy turned, and now that he is in his mid 50s he has had an even harder time finding work. Now he has to put his pride aside and do what he can for money and shelter. He has been staying at Wheeler Mission and we told him of our church's affiliation with them. The second we said the name of our church his face lit up. Harry had been to Grace before on weekends that they bring some of the men from Wheeler over to the church and serve them dinner. He thanked us for the bag that we gave him but said more than anything he just appreciated the conversation. He reminded me that sometimes all it takes to reach out to someone is an authentic conversation. Just showing up and taking the time to treat someone with love and respect has more of an impact than anything that you can give them. Those items in that bag won't last forever, but the impression of an honest conversation will.
I had been so caught up in what I wanted that I was failing to recognize what others needed.
I'm am so grateful for the opportunity to spend time with these men on Valentine's Day. They reminded me of what the holiday is really about, and that everyone needs love. But also that we should extend love on a daily basis as well. This world is full of broken people, some just hide it better than others. You never know what someone is going through and that is why it is important to always be the best we can be to people.
I want God's love to radiate from me and for people to see Jesus reflected in me.
Lately I've had some strained and struggling relationships, so I wasn't feeling very loving leading up to Valentine's Day this year. I really just wanted it to be over so all of the commercials, songs on the radio, and decorated Target aisles would stop reminding me how lonely I felt. Most of all, I wanted healing in these relationships as soon as possible so I could feel happy again too. One day a couple of weeks ago I was on my way home after my classes, feeling sorry for myself, and I put my music on shuffle and waited for the music to start. What do you know, the song My Own Little World by Matthew West started playing through my headphones.
"Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours. Give me open hands and open doors. Put Your light in my eyes and let me see that my own little world is not about me."
God speaks to us in funny ways sometimes, and He definitely called me out right then. He sees the desires of our hearts, He finds us in our broken places, and He will provide us with exactly what we need in His way and in His time. So while we wait on Him to reveal to us what His plan is, we should remain active. What does He want us to do for Him?
I had money that I had set aside for Valentine's Day this year that I found myself not needing anymore. I thought back to that lyric from Matthew West and wondered how I could use this money outside of my own little world. As I thought about it, I remembered my dad telling me about a conversation he had had one night with a couple of homeless men on the streets of Indianapolis when temperatures were subzero and they were struggling just to survive the day. Maybe I could use this money to restore a little bit of hope in some of these people.
Barry Rodriguez, the founder and director of World Next Door, wrote about his experiences living on the streets for 4 days and 3 nights in Manhattan in the April 2013 WND magazine on poverty in the United States. What stuck out to me the most was his description of what it was like to panhandle, asking for money so he could have something to eat for the night. He recalled how the majority of people either didn't notice him or deliberately ignored him. "No wonder homeless people so often suffer from mental illnesses. I panhandled for probably a grand total of 45 minutes and even I wanted to stand up and shout, 'Hey! At least acknowledge me as a person!' Being ignored is a terrible, terrible feeling," Rodriguez stated.
People live this everyday. Everyday people on the streets are treated like they are worthless and not even worth a glance. I have heard some try to justify their treatment of the homeless by saying they probably made poor choices and now they're paying for it. Even if that's true, are these people not also people? Are they not also our brothers and sisters in Christ? Are they not loved by God as much as you and I are? Do they not deserve to be treated with the love and respect that we expect?
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." (1 John 3:16-18 NIV)
This is the verse that I read after I woke up Valentine's Day morning. I could not think of a better way to spend Valentine's Day than spreading love to the broken hearted. So I got up, went to the store with the money I had for Valentine's Day, and filled bags with food and toiletry items. My dad and I took the bags in the evening to the heart of downtown Indianapolis.
It didn't take long until we found Julian, huddled up on a stool in the slushy, dirty snow. As we talked with him he alluded to a disability and talked of how he hadn't been able to get a job lately. He never once asked us for money. Instead he told us about all of the ways that God has provided for him. A woman had bought him a coat and gloves and a man had given him a room to stay in. So when my dad handed him a bag, his eyes lit up and he immediately shook our hands saying 'God bless you.' God had provided for him once again.
We heard Joe all the way down the block. He was drumming on a bucket and had a smile that illuminated the corner. He just loved to play the drums and he used it as an honest way to make just enough money for a room in a hotel and a modest meal. His positivity with so little and lack of security for a meal and shelter didn't keep him from smiling and playing his drums with joy on a cold winter night.
The last man that we met was Harry. His eyes were fixed on the sidewalk as he shook a plastic cup with some coins in it. He told us how he had done different kinds of factory work but was laid off when the economy turned, and now that he is in his mid 50s he has had an even harder time finding work. Now he has to put his pride aside and do what he can for money and shelter. He has been staying at Wheeler Mission and we told him of our church's affiliation with them. The second we said the name of our church his face lit up. Harry had been to Grace before on weekends that they bring some of the men from Wheeler over to the church and serve them dinner. He thanked us for the bag that we gave him but said more than anything he just appreciated the conversation. He reminded me that sometimes all it takes to reach out to someone is an authentic conversation. Just showing up and taking the time to treat someone with love and respect has more of an impact than anything that you can give them. Those items in that bag won't last forever, but the impression of an honest conversation will.
I had been so caught up in what I wanted that I was failing to recognize what others needed.
I'm am so grateful for the opportunity to spend time with these men on Valentine's Day. They reminded me of what the holiday is really about, and that everyone needs love. But also that we should extend love on a daily basis as well. This world is full of broken people, some just hide it better than others. You never know what someone is going through and that is why it is important to always be the best we can be to people.
I want God's love to radiate from me and for people to see Jesus reflected in me.
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