Serve God love me and men

"Love that will not betray you, dismay or enslave you,
It will set you free
Be more like the man you were made to be." 

-Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More

We had another mission team this week. Besides not wanting to blog because I was getting home at 11:30 each night, I also don't want to be repeating myself with the day to day itinerary we have with each mission team.  So I will skip around, give some highlights, but mainly just random thought from the week.

Tuesday on our walk I ran into  a a bunch of my friends on the street, people I have seen day in and day out and I am always drawn toward them. It is nice to know people wherever we go, but I have to intentionally try and still meet new people.  At Woodruff Park we ran into a woman who needed help. She actually didn't approach us but was walking with another guy who started talking to us and called her over to explain her situation.  She started to tell us how she was stuck here and needed to get a bus home, and I immediately started thinking "this is the most obvious hustle for money there is. I'm not giving her anything." She never actually asked us for money but instead asked us to use a phone. Still coming off of the sting of having mine stolen myself, Andrew let her use his.  She made a call as we continued to talk to her friend (or really a guy she had just met) and after  couple minutes she hung up, handed the phone back, and said someone was going to meet here at 5 points! I had dismissed her, but by just giving her a little chance, a simple favor we (or Andrew rather) kept her off the streets that night.  You'd think after doing this for over 2 months I would realize that everyone has a story and I need to listen and offer whatever I can, but I have to work to not become cynical by all the games that I do see around me.    

One night this week some of us went out late with the mission team (this was not a COTS endorsed program! just something they wanted to do independently and we joined them). We were downtown late when me and 2 of the boys stopped to talk to this man sitting on the sidewalk outside a McDonalds.  He had crutches leaning next to him, a swollen ankle, and a urine bag attacked to his abdomen. It became clear after talking to him for a few minutes that he also suffered from some mental disability.  Anyway we talked to him for a bit and one of the boys went to go get him a hamburger. about that time two cops came over on bikes. They started telling the man he needed to move along.  We stayed for a moment but after giving him his food, we said our goodbyes and walked away, trying to not make any waves with the police.  One of the policemen rode up behind us and asked if we needed directions.  I said no and that we were just walking around with some friends in the area.  He started to ride off but before he did he blurted, "Stop feeding the bums! They are like cats, they will keep coming back." I was so mad. I could physically feel a knot in my chest, and was glad that he rode off so I won't even have to fight to keep from responding to him.

Thursday we walked part of the belt-line and met two men named Herman and Willy. I talked more with Willy. He has been homeless for about 30 years.  We didn't talk for long before he pulled out a small photo album and began to show us all the pictures, and with pride explaining who each person was and a little about them.  Herman was scrounging up chairs for people, trying to make them as comfortable as possible.  It seemed like such a natural thing that you might do at someone's house: sit down, pull out the photo album and get to know the family. It just so happened that their "house" is under a bridge.  

Something I have been thinking about this week and last week is a point that was made in one of the books we have been reading.  The author explains that the story of the good Samaritan starts with the question "Who is my neighbor?" This question is a negative question, limiting. It really implies, who isn't my neighbor? Who don't I have to love? And after Jesus tells the whole story, he doesn't say "everyone is your neighbor", or "love everyone in need". He asks the question "Who acted as a neighbor?"  He flips the question to a positive call to action and refuses to limit.  He basically says, you are asking the wrong question! You are focusing on who are "they", when you should be focusing on who are you.  Not are they worthy but what could you be doing? 

As many times as I have heard this story this flipping of the focus has never been clear to me. The message always looks to what the good Samaritan does and not how Jesus frames the story.  But I think it is so important to see.  Andy always says that COTS shouldn't have to exist.  People should love their neighbors anyway. If we took this verse seriously, COTS would not be needed, but that's just not the world we live in.  

In general this week it has been evident to me that some of these people are really letting me into their lives. I'm learning more about their struggles, plans, and needs.  We are not offering "services" but do try and help our friends with their particular needs.  It is a slow, often discouraging, nonlinear path, but every once in a while you get to do something for some one.  And even when I can't do something for someone, just getting closer and sharing our lives together is amazing.

I have re-realized how little I actually do.  I'm not "evangelizing", feeding, helping fight addictions, or any of that.  I am listening to, laughing and sharing with, and occasionally challenging people.  I believe that these do matter. But just like any short term mission trip, I am taking away infinitely more than I am giving.