UNDER THE OVERRPASS

[jrabbach]

I just finished reading Under The Overpass by Mike Yankoski. It really was an eye opening book. It follows the author as he and a friend named Sam live as homeless men in several different cities in America. There stories at times make me want to cry when I read how they were treated, often by members of churches.

The two guys are Christians, and at times witness during their journey. I don't think I will be able to walk past a homeless person again without thinking differently. That is a good thing.

This book, coupled with the experiences I was lucky enough to have volunteering in a soup kitchen and homeless drop in center in NYC have really pushed me to try and do something tangible to start a new ministry to the homeless and hungry here in WI. I have a few ideas for outreach in Madison. Send me an email if you want to help out. [e-mail]

[becky frey]

I absolutely loved that book as well. That book and Same Kind of Different As Me really opened my eyes to the plight of homeless people in this country. It helped me realize that I can and should be doing more to reach out to God's children who are hurting and suffering right in my own neighborhood. A few of us are going to Water Street Ministries on Thanksgiving to serve breakfast and I hope to continue to volunteer there in the future. This is a great ministry in Lancaster that helps care for the homeless. But the experiences of Mike and Sam really touched me. It was like a stab to my heart when I looked at the way I act when I see a homeless person on the street. We ask God to put something or someone in our path so we can do big extraordinary acts of mission for Him, but when he puts a homeless person right in front of us, we cross the street and walk on by without a second thought. My own acts of thoughtlessness and inaction are despicable. I must work on this!

[jrabbach]

Last night I was out in Madison and a homeless man approached our group asking for money. When I offered to go and buy him a sandwich, he was shocked, but realizing he had someone who may be able to help him out, he looked at me and said, "What I really need is a warm dry place to sleep." (It was pouring rain at the time, and he was soaked.)

Now, I was a little broken up by this request, because I no longer live in Madison, and was going to be staying with friends, and didn't think I could just invite him to stay in someone else's house. So, I ultimately had to turn him down on that request.

But, I honestly can't tell you what I would have done if I still had my own place in Madison. The world tells us it is not safe to bring someone like that into your home. God tells us that is exactly what we should be doing. I just find it tough when I feel like I can justify not acting as Christ would because of "common sense realities."

In all honesty, I could have taken him to a hotel and paid for a room for him for the night (a la the Good Samaritan), but I would feel I can justify not doing that because I don't really have a job, or an income at the moment. Still, if I think about what I spent on dinner and drinks while visiting my friends, maybe I do have some extra cash to spare when I deem it "worth it."

I'm really going back and forth on this. I really feel like if we want to be true to ourselves and our faith, then we need to find ways to really live out what we preach, and what we complain about other people not doing.

The mans name was Charles.