WHY?

January 1, standing in the center of the small park at the foot of the bridge where dark begins to descend,  surrounded by bridge guests, I see. . .

One is a vietnam veteran with a bad leg, a wife of 3 months, and a 14 year old daughter in the hospital with luekemia. . .and no job.

One is another vet with mental illness, rambling on, shivering with no place to go.

One standing in wet socks and wet shoes in 30+ degrees, shivering. . .from the cold and from just recovering from seizures. He stood crying. . .holding out a bottle of pills saying how taking them all at once would sure be easy.

One young one standing there with shaved head, just released from jail, smoking and newly pregnant.

Others with that look in their eyes that say I'm tired, I'm down, I'm lonely, I just don't know.

Then I spot the man from the Veterans Administration talking to one of the vets.

There are those precious ones handing out hot food and drinks and warm woolen socks and gloves.

There is the recovered alcholic with a good life now helping the alcoholic still in his despair.

Heads are bowed and prayers are lifted and smiles emerge and pill bottles go back into the pockets.

Hope showed up.

Hope was whispered.

Love shouted.

Hot coffee was downed, hot food went into the hungry, and conversation that said, "we care."

It is cold, wet, messy, sad, frustrating, discouraging and heartbreaking.  Why then, you may ask, are we there?

Because God is there. He came into a messy world, He saves messy people. He doesn't leave them. He doesn't turn His back. He reaches down in love. And if we can take the hands of our guests and lead them to His Righteous Right Hand and begin to feel the hope they so long to feel. . .well. . .there is no other place I'd rather be. . .and I'm guessing the others who came with full cars and hearts would say the same thing.

Why, you still ask?

 

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live for Him. This is love; not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
First John 4:9-11

"Love is patient, love is kind. . .it is not self seeking. . .it keeps no records of wrongs. . .love always protects. . .always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
First Corinthians 13:4

"Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord, your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
Matthew 22:37-38

This is why we keep doing it.

 

Who has God put in your path to love?

Is it hard? If so, don't turn your back.

Turn into it. Give a blessing.

And look for the blessing coming back at you. . .it's there. . .you may have to look twice. . .but it's there. It may be in a way you never imagined. . .but it's there.

I guarantee it!