Me? Homeless?

So, I spent this last weekend with my amazing cousin, Jasmine :) Wow...talk about a blessing!! We had SO much fun together: saying hi to our friends who worked in the mall on Black Friday, watching movies, shopping, walking downtown at night, sleeping in, eating ice cream, taking the wrong exit, getting our pictures taken, going to church, singing...and just sharing life together. IT WAS SO GOOD!!

But I have to tell you something:

When Jaz and I were leaving Wal-Mart after our pictures, there was a homeless guy on the corner. I barely even looked at him. I immediately judged him. I did not love him. And we drove right past. Even when I wanted to ask Jaz to go back, I stayed silent...for fear of what she might think. Seriously? Was I so stuck on myself? Was I so stuck on the people I was with and what I was doing that I forgot-or chose not to see-those who needed more than I? Not just needed money...but needed JESUS? Was I so blind?

I sing songs about love and how God is love and how we are to love others. But what does it mean if there's not action?

"Be not only hearers of the Word, but doers also."
"Faith without works is dead."

How simple it would have been to take a minute to help that man.

And I chose me.

Jesus has given me an example to follow...in His steps. And I chose to stand still. I chose to be blind to a man that needed His love. His love in action.

As fun as the weekend, was, that man's face will be imprinted in my mind.

Why was I ashamed to look that man in the face?
Why was it so hard to take in his position?

It's because when I looked at that man, I saw me.

I saw pain, hurt, and shame.
I saw struggle...and need.
I saw the fight to make it through another day.

I saw me...and I didn't want to admit to it.

I didn't want to admit that I felt homeless.
Helpless.
Ashamed.
I didn't want to admit the pain of asking for help.
Letting the whole world know I'm not ok.
I didn't want to admit that the emptiness in his eyes reflected the emptiness I felt inside.
The loneliness deep in my heart.
The struggle to keep my head up and fight through another day.

I didn't want to admit that the homeless man on the corner reflected me...how I feel in the deepest parts of me.
How many times do people pass ME by, not taking a second glance...or even ONE glance in my direction?

Do they not want to admit they are in the same place, too?

Broken.
Lonely.
Searching.
Aching for someone to take the time...and LOVE?
REALLY LOVE?
To be Jesus to them?

What if we did that?
What if every person we saw, we saw as Jesus...and how Jesus sees them?
What if we chose to radically change the way we loved people?
What if we chose to not think twice...and we just...DID?
What if we were intentional and really took time...and LISTENED?
What if we looked people in the eyes...and just...LOVED them?
Shared life with them?
Struggles.
Pains.
Hurts.
Victories.
Joy.

What if we let each other know that we're NOT ALONE in this?

And when we look at each other, what if we choose to see not our reflection...but the face of Jesus-Christ in us, the hope of glory-and share that hope with each other.

That's when we put love in action. That's when healing starts. That's when we see JESUS.