The View From My Window - The Man With No Home

Sometimes God shows us things through the everyday - what you or I miss - even out the windows of our own homes. This is what I saw one day recently - and was led to reflection. This is what I read in my Daily Bible Reading that very evening. And this is what I felt impressed to share with you.

My home looks out onto the train tracks.

There is much to look at and little to look at - at the same time.

There is the beautiful and looming rock mountain, the tall and green African grasses, and the homes with lit or darkened windows that appear to be eyes staring back at me. 

And there is the trash laying forgotten along the tracks.
 
 
All this I can see -

Or maybe not.

Because then there is the man with no home.

He comes. To the other side of the tracks. To make his plastic and cardboard bed.

When the sun is setting. And my eyesight is fading.

He lays. On the ground. Like the discarded trash.


He's still.

Does he sleep? It's not yet 8pm.

I don't know when he leaves.

Maybe before anyone takes notice.


I wonder,

What happened?

Where was his last real bed?

Does he have family? friends?

Does he have a job?

Did he have a home?


I wonder,

What is his story?

Do I see his Identity?

OR

Do I see and name him Homeless?

Today I do not - because my eyes are opened to see the Man first - Who Christ loves and calls us to serve - with or without the literal home -

And I remember,

Christ calls him Home. 

'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

~ Matthew 25:34-40 ~

                                                                                      

What do you See or Not See around you? Do you see someone's Identity or something else? What is God speaking to you to change or do?

Update on the "Where Will I Live" Saga? Drum Roll Please!

So y'all have probably been wondering in dire angst if I will be living in a TENT come June... 

Or if I will unwillingly find myself living the life of a vagabond, out on the street - GASP - homeless?!!

(Just Kidding. Really, I do take this seriously and the seriousness of people who live on the street.)

And I realize that my prior "Home" post could have been taken a bit more despondent than I intended - not that it isn't true - it is (except I am not despondent), and I do feel the way I wrote at times - but just not all the time...

I LOVE what I am learning and call myself blessed to be a part of Hope Africa - getting to know students and watching their lives change!

All that to say - I HAVE A HOME - in about a week, around June 1st!!! Woot!

Well, a HOME in the form of an APARTMENT!!!! It has a great location (minus a bit of traffic noise), and it's a walk away from the grocery store (important until I have a car)! The things I like best about it is that I will share with 2 great girls and it has such a warm atmosphere.

I am so excited to MOVE IN and to MAKE IT A HOME. 

Thank you so much, dear friends and family, for your care and prayers for myself, my HOME, and my TRANSITION (keep the prayers comin'). It really, really means a lot to know you guys are with me (and since I can't say it in person, I will add a lot of emphasizing "really's").


So will you come to my housewarming party?  ;)


And by the way, my knee is fine from my stellar fall a bit ago. It made a blue bruise - and my legs did hurt through the first night - but all-in-all it's not too shabby.