I was sitting in my car at a gas station in downtown Memphis when I heard a timid voice through my cracked window, “Ma’am? Ma’am. Can I ask you a question?” I turned my head to find a woman in well worn jeans and a man’s shirt, twice her size. She looked exhausted and desperate. To her surprise, I rolled my window all the way down. Sheepishly, she said, “Thank you. thank you.” She continued by telling me that she needed $7.50 to get into a homeless shelter. I asked her, “Where does a shelter expect homeless people to get $7.50?”
I had to ask more questions. I even called some homeless shelters I knew of and asked if they'd ever heard of the place about which this woman spoke. After entertaining my judgments for a few moments she said, “I don’t wanna be rude, but if you are not going to help me, I have to find some money or else I will be on the street in the dark.” I replied, “I can just take you to the shelter.” At that point, she started shaking her head frantically, stepping away and waving her hands saying, “I don’t take rides no more…. I been through too much.” I could tell this woman was petrified; she explained that she had been beaten repeatedly at night. This helped explain the missing eye at which I'd been subconsciously starring. That's when I realized sleeping over in random alleys was no slumber party. She turned quickly and started to walk away. I knew I had a 20 dollar bill easily accessible. I hopped out of my car, stopped her and placed it in her hand. Recognizing that it was not a dollar bill, she immediately began to rejoice, “Mercy! My God! Praise Your Name Lord! Thank you so much sweetheart.”
When I drove away, I turned my music completely off because there was no room think about anything else; my brain was crowded with questions! “What if she just played me? What if she is on drugs or an alcoholic? What if my initial skepticism was warranted?” Then, all at once the Holy Spirit calmed me with the thought, “It does not matter.” I am not and will never be responsible for how a person uses or misuses what I give them. But, I will be held accountable to Christ in loving, “the least of these.” We have the opportunity to help people understand and truly know our Savior when we love and give freely.
Micah 6:8 paints a beautiful portrait of this. The question is asked, "With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before God on high?” Would you believe the answer is not, “My tithes and offerings,” or even “my faithful service,” but rather “He has told you what is good. What does the Lord require of you but to do justice and love mercy and walk humbly with your God?” The word justice means, what is right or fitting. I heard one of our times acclaimed theologians, Tim Keller say, "When we look at someone society deems poor it should be like starring in a mirror; because, without Christ, that is exactly how we look and smell." (Or, something to that effect) In his love and mercy, Christ considered it “right” to give Himself for us! The hearts of millions in on this Earth quake to feel something, anything. What if they felt Christ's amazing grace! I hope sharing my honest judgments of this woman will serve as encouragement to all of God's children through Christ to live out our faith by doing justice and loving mercy.
"God of mercy and justice, help me, by the power Your Holy Spirit to walk humbly with You, freely extending your mercy and justice as you provide the opportunities. Amen."
“In Christ God was reconciling us to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. 2 Corinthians 5:20
