We were still inside the Dallas city limits as we drove down I-45 on our way back home. Being on the overpass, I naturally took a glance to my left to see what might be below. I saw a village. Not the kind of village you might think. I saw the homeless. There were quite a few tents along with makeshift shelters made of cardboard. I saw a few folks milling around, seemingly unrushed to be anywhere in particular.
I’ve seen sights like this before. Living near a major metropolitan area (I live 50 miles north of Houston), it’s not unusual to see someone living under a bridge or in an alley. Just a short distance from our house there are entire families that live in tents and makeshift shelters in the woods.
This time, when I looked, something felt different. Much different. As I looked underneath the freeway that day, a lump came up in my throat. I felt a small tear in my eye. There was a time in the not-so-distant past when I didn’t have that same reaction. On most occasions, when driving past a scene like the one in Dallas that day, I already knew in my mind why these people were there. They were lazy, irresponsible bums. After all, this is America. There are plenty of ways these folks can get back on their feet again, right? Besides, most of them have learned how to panhandle, right? I was a righteous judge of their character and motives.
As I’ve mentioned in one of my earlier blogs, I’ve gone through quite a change in the way I think. It’s still changing and will continue as long as I’m in this body. Repentance is what it’s called in the bible.
I’m learning that how we see others is often a reflection of how we see ourselves. You see, when Jesus said “Love your neighbor as yourself”, He was essentially telling us that we can’t really love our neighbor unless we love ourselves. Love myself? That sounds almost unscriptural! We’re told to deny ourselves, right?
“Whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34)
The word deny means – to affirm that no one has acquaintance or connection with someone, to forget one’s self, lose sight of one’s self and one’s own interests (Thayer Definition)
So who am I denying? The answer is simple: I’m having no acquaintance or connection with the man I used to be. That old man died with Christ on the cross and now a new man lives. That new man looks just like Jesus.
One of the very first things He began to change in me through detoxing my brain was concerning my identity and how loved I am by my Father. I am His beloved son in whom He is well pleased. Why? Because I did enough good things today to make Him proud of me? No. It’s because I’m His son. Because I am completely and unconditionally loved by Him, I can love others the way He loves me. When I came into a more complete understanding that I am the object of His love, then it became easier to see others as objects of His love also.
“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ (Matt. 25:34-40)
Never do I feel the pleasure of God more than when I am loving those who have nothing to offer me in return.
We, the church, have been commissioned to do what no government or social program can do – offer hope. That hope is found in the One who gives new life and breaks the endless cycle of hopelessness. What if we realized exactly Who we carry with us and took Him under that bridge?
Hopeful,
Kevin