THE THINGS I SEE IN THE CITY

 I am up and out the door with the Wonder Dog by 6 most mornings.  We are both old and prefer to take our walks and sometimes my carries (Remember when he gets tired he stops)  in the coolest part of the day.  We only go for brief strolls after this long walk.  I live half a block from a major artery through the city.   In the early morning hours, the traffic is light and we often cross this street to have a different view while walking.  This morning as I carried (he is slow--we could get run over if he stopped to sniff) Hero across Forest Park I bent over to put him back down to walk.  As I straightened up, I noticed the house on the corner which has some lawn furniture in the front yard seemed to have a lump on it.  As my vision finally focused in the early morning light, I discovered the lump was a person curled onto the rod iron love seat sleeping.  We are pretty quiet when we walk and Hero seldom barks so we slipped by with hardly a sound.  Today though is garbage day and I knew the truck was making his rounds---with LOTS of noise.  By the end of the block, I saw the truck was right in front of that house and thought he will now move on.  After making our big circle and heading home as I neared the intersection with the loveseat/bed, I looked over and the lump was still sleeping.  I live right by the hospital district and one of the busiest ER's in the city is but a couple of blocks away.  The sleeper had on disposable hospital scrubs and had a couple of bottles of gatorade on the table by them.  Dr. SIL tells me the homeless of the city often go to the ER's when dehydrated or suffering from any type of inclement weather.  It gives them a short respite out of the elements--usually a free meal--perhaps a short term suit of clothing (those are not made to last) and hopefully a kind face.  My daughter in law and a good friend have worked with the homeless of Fort Worth.  Their experience has been the same as mine when I volunteered with that population---I cannot tell you how sad, how frustrating, how utterly hopeless you feel when there seems to be no answer.  Mental illness is rampant in this community, drugs or alcohol are often the catalyst which created the nightmare, and in many cases--they prefer being on the streets to following the rules of the shelters.  I could go on and on---but I will only say this---it is a black hole of hopelessness and not for the faint of heart to work with.

NOW---here is my point---when helping the least of these--I am not charged with bringing about change---I am merely God's tool to show His love.  I cannot fix the problem---what did Jesus say, "The poor will be with you always."  I can help feed and cloth them and offer a friendly face.  I am charged with being the hands and feet of Jesus---not their judge and jury.  My role is simple---feed the poor--care for the lambs of Jesus.  For surely as we are part of His flock--so are they.  I am not equipped to fix the problem---I am able to provide a helping hand and there will come a time when I will be asked "Did you feed my sheep?"

"He said to him the third time,

'Simon, son of John, do you love me?'

Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time,

'Do you love me?'

And he said to Him,

'Lord, You know everything;

You know that I love you.'

Jesus said to him,

'Feed My Sheep.' "

John 21:17