Esther Brady Crawford - faintstarlite

Working at a homeless shelter this summer has opened my eyes to the desperate needs in my new community. In many ways I’ve consciously walked past the homeless, unaware of what I might be able to offer them. A desensitization to the dirty and needy took place while growing up in affluent suburbia. Perhaps it’s a necessity to stay satisfied with the status quo which keeps the poor out the door, and under the mat.

Today a new family came in – a woman, her teenage son and grade-school aged son. All three looked embarrassed, and angry. I welcomed them, and for a brief moment I felt their pain, their rage. This wasn’t what she wanted or expected for her life, or theirs.

At Kristen’s church on Sunday the pastor talked about what it means to be a Christian. She explained that once a person has decided to join a faith community there are expectations placed on them. Every group acts a certain way. Having a relationship with Christ isn’t just about believing the right creeds, or saying the right things, but it involves joining a family with expectations about how to live. It involves feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and sheltering the homeless (just to name a few).

I think we do what we love. We talk about what we are truly interested in. It’s easy to make time for people if you genuinely care for them. As soon as it becomes about getting a reward (present or future), people can feel it. Sometimes I’m able to love others, and sometimes I am too selfish to slow down. I’m working on it.

We received a crate this afternoon – a donation of back to school backpacks loaded with supplies for our 30+ kids.

There is always hope…