Welcome to our series on loving others: Practically Impractical in So Many Ways, notes to myself as I take steps (the faith and hope-filled, clumsy and imperfect kind) in loving others in practical (and impractical) ways.
Provide a meal for an unhoused person.
If you’d like to add a little extra impracticality, don’t just buy food and drop it off. Ask for their order, pick up food for both of you, and then eat together. Discover more about them as you eat. Offer to pray for them and continue doing so even after the meal together.
Depending on where you live or work, or even where you spend significant time driving around, there’s a distinct possibility the unhoused are common fixtures on certain street corners and intersections.
Over time, what we see most often can morph into barely noticed background.
Or maybe we still see them pretty distinctly, but find ourselves awkwardly pretending to be busy doing something (anything) to avoid their gaze as they shuffle past the car window yet again.
For the first time in the 13+ years we’ve lived in our home, an unhoused person - disoriented and in distress - became visible through my desk window.
An opportunity to love practically in an impractical and completely unexpected way presented itself as I was working on the first post in this series:
We live on a golf course, and one of the course restrooms is about 80 feet away from our backyard. Our family suddenly became part of an impromptu team of folks brought together to extend a kind and compassionate presence. Even though local law enforcement drove away with him a few hours later, this random (not-so-random) stranger is still invading my thoughts.
I’m thankful that at least momentarily, he didn’t have to worry about where to hide out from the rain, as the downpour steadily increased outside my window. Wondering where he ended up, and praying he’s received at least a tiny glimpse of hope and healing wherever his next stop was.
Loving others: practically impractical in so many ways.
Until next time,
Becky
a few more words…
This week is Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. I wrote about it for Miami Mom Collective a few years ago, which included an open letter to the homeless man at the Target cafe.
This is so wonderful Becky, and this is going to sound possibly a bit left field, but looking at the photo in your piece, my eye is immediately drawn to what looks like a cross shape in the way the light is falling in the leaves, up above in the shot - can you see what I mean? I couldn't help thinking about your glimpses of love! Especially with this post. Sending love! XOXO