So I used to want to have a great Gospel experience. I wanted t see big and significant things happen in someone's life. I wanted this because I wanted people to encounter God and because I wanted to see my Creator do his thing in a big way. So what do you do? You put yourself in an extreme
situation, right? And you take some big risks, right? Well, here is one instance where I tried that:
November 5
My
world was shaken today as I sat in Williams Park in downtown St.
Petersburg. This park is always busy because it is a bus transit
center. There are those who choose to ride the bus and those who have
no other choice. They all walk through the park. Some stopping to rest
and some who seem to spend the whole day there. The poor congregate
and fellowship in Williams Park. I met an older guy there. After
having a brief conversation with him, I asked what he needed. He said a
couple of dollars. Easy. Although, I only had one dollar I gave it to
him. After that I asked what else and before he could answer I
suggested he let me tak
e him to lunch
(how awkward is that...we just met). Even though he told me he hadn't
eaten, he declined the offer and said he needed to wait for his friend.
I said ok. And then there was an awkward silence.
This is where
my world was a little shaken. I realized that I had nothing to say
because I had a list of ways in which I could be of help to Tony. I
could give money, food, and maybe refer him to a place where he could
get help. After that, what could I do.
Tony broke the silence by saying that he saw his friend and then politely excused himself.
I felt like a failure. Not because I couldn't take him out to lunch
but because I had failed to realize that the needs of the poor are so
far from my world. After money and something to eat did I even have
anything else to offer Tony? Isn't that the basic starting point in
helping the poor. Not in this case. It was just awkward.
Some questions that are on my heart now are:
Shouldn't Tony have a say in what he needs before I make list in my mind?
Shouldn't I just try to be a friend first instead of trying to get him to fit into my expectations?
Why didn't I start with Jesus? How do you do that anyway?
Isn't Tony a person not a charity case?
I learned that He was. Thanks for teaching me Tony and sorry for being a crappy example of Jesus.
Thanks for teaching me that poverty cannot be solved without listening
to the poor. I pray that God keeps shaking me until my ignorance falls
off.
