I get a check

On the 1st Monday of every month I receive a check. It's not a rain-check. It's not a pay-check. It's a reality check. A reality check in the rawest form. And it comes to me from behind these doors.

As I may have mentioned before, Justin and I meet with a small group on Monday nights. It's a group comprised of men {& their wives} that he has been in discipleship with for at least 10 years. We have only recently become re-involved in the group. It has ministered to us far beyond our expectations in 5 short months. It has not only ministered to us but also to those in need in our community. We meet in our home 3 Monday's a month. The first Monday of the month we meet at the local Rescue Mission. For 3+ years this group has faithfully fed an average of 30 homeless men and women who take shelter at the Rescue Mission. The first time I joined them I was flooded with emotion. I still can't even compose my thoughts enough to tell you my first impression. It wasn't just compassion and pity that I felt for these people, I felt humility for them as I sprinkled cheese on top of their nachos... how did they get here, what is their story, what is it like, how do you get to this point? I've since been convicted of worrying and wondering how did they get here rather than what can I do to help them. I've never been homeless. I never even been desperate for a place to stay. I've been hungry, but not because I didn't have food. These people have opened my eyes to the world of homelessness. It's real, it exsists. It exsists not only in large cities but in small ones, like the one I live in. These people are broken.

Since my first trip to the mission my mind has been entertained with thoughts on the poor. Our group is studying Galatians and when we got to chapter 2, verse 10...where Paul says, "All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." my friend Jill posed the question, "are we eager to remember the poor?" If we're honest, probably not. In fact, before we joined the group serving food to the homeless, poor and hungry was something that came to my mind around the holidays. These people need us to remember them more than at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

After the food is served we join the men and women staying at the shelter for dinner. The men will sit with the men and the women with the women. The conversation for the women will almost always turn to children, like it would at any dinner table; the men talk about work, or the lackthereof.

The people who stay in the lodging at the mission are allowed to stay 6 weeks, that is if they choose to follow the rules and curfew. Depending on their circumstances some may be permitted to stay longer if needed.

After dinner we sing a few hymns and a man in our group will present a message. The wife of the husband who prepares the message is responsible for preparing the main course, the others will bring sides & dessert.

It is a precious time of fellowship and an incredible reminder of the reality of the brokenness of the world in which we live. I hope to do this for a very long time.

They have immediate needs {if you are local and so inclined to help}:
-dish soap (I can vouch for this... I reached for the bottle on Monday and it had been watered down... a lot)
- hand soap
- laundry detergent
- socks
- towels & wash cloths
- coffee, tea, & sugar

These were just a few rattled off to me in a phone call earlier. If you think about it, these are the same items that are on our grocery lists. These are the type things that they need too. You can also click on this link to get to their site to see other needs & ministries.

You can find them at the intersection of Appletree & Washington.

The front of the building faces Washington and looks like this.

You may see Boots on the back porch. He seems to hold down the fort.

I whispered in his ear Monday night that someone suggested on the blog it would be better that I not own an animal...

You tell 'em Boots. He could tell by looking at me that I'm a true animal lover!! Anyway...

I went way too many years with out a reality check, if you don't get one, I highly suggest you do. It puts the world outside our comfortable homes into perspective. If you can't get there but are inclined to meet a need... you can bring it to me and I'll see to it that it gets there.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48