Everybody needs help

As I was driving to get my matcha green tea latte on my way to work, I was slowed down by what seemed the longest ever traffic light. I was in the intersection where homeless men typically ask for money. And as I looked over I saw a young man asking for money with a young girl sitting in the grass at his side.

I quickly looked away. I typically don't give money to homeless people. But my heart began to hurt for them. I began to wonder if they were together, if they were married. Wondered how they got there- to the point of their life where they were homeless. I looked away again and then at the long traffic light and began to wonder if I had any dollars in my purse.

Looking back over at the homeless man I saw a sign that changed my perspective. It said

Everybody needs a little help once in a while.

And as I reread the sign, I knew I had to do something. I didn't have food. I didn't have homeless grab bags. But I did have cash. And I knew that I had enough money to spare. So I rolled down my window and gave.

Friends, it's too easy to judge. And so often, I do.
I judge them. I question the people that aren't like me- that don't think the way I do.
I ask them Why they don't have a job?
I ask them How they could fall captive to addiction?
I ask them Where is their support system, their friends, and their families- why aren't they helping?

But the truth is, we all need grace.
We all are homeless without Christ.
We are all undeserving of eternal life. We are undeserving of even material blessings. But God is the faithful provider of every good gift.

And we can judge these people, but the sign still holds true

Everybody needs a little help once in a while

Friends, life throws us curve balls and life isn't fair. Sometimes tragedy happens. This world is sinful. An expensive disease can break a family; divorce tells people apart. Many kids were not raised in homes with positive influences. They weren't taught how to find a job, how to guard their money. Friends we will never understand, why people are in the situations they are and how they got their, but we can demonstrate compassion and love.

So often, I find myself in messes I could never imagine being in.

I never imagined being a slacker student- never would have ever missed a deadline on a test. But now that I'm older, working two jobs, running around, I missed my test deadline. I had to beg my teacher for mercy. 

I never imagined being heart broken. Never imagined experiencing the emotions of deep depression. Never imagined some of my closest friends moving away. Never imagined one of my parents developing a disease. 

But we all need help. We all need grace. At different points in our life, we need help. We need each other. And as Christ's hands and feet we are called to be those lifeguards -- to be those safety nets-- that help people before they crash and burn.

So my prayer is this-- Is Lord open my eyes to look for the broken. Take away our sterotypes and misconceptions and pride. Teach us how to love everyone, including people who aren't like us, so we can be your hands and feet in a broken world.