There are a lot of troubled souls out there, especially among our youth and young adults, who no longer want to be with us. It’s even worse amongst the homeless. They don’t see a reason for being. Sadly, they exist in a state of chaos whether due to bullying, parents(or offspring)who can’t get enough of a grip to overcome their own demons, or simply no feeling of belonging or usefulness. Many are escapees from relationships with narcissists. Don’t even get me started on the bipolar state of our political climate that keep so many in a state of hyper partisan frenzy and confusion. Sometimes it’s merely situational. We live in a society that behaves more and more like “middle schoolers” every day, so wrapped up in our egocentric “causes” that we can’t see far enough outside of our own little boxes to truly be useful. Useful to some at the exclusion of others, and there begins the chaos.
One thing I’ve learned as I dig deeper in working with advocates for the homeless,(small case)is that inclusion in that environment is organic. Love doesn’t bring an agenda with it. Each person is seen as they are, heard and respected from down on their own level by humble servants with no ulterior agendas.(most of the time)We really have to be careful, as often our efforts at inclusion result in exclusion because we become so biased in the political sense, that our inclusionary efforts end up in resulting in exclusion because we can’t leave our politics outside when we come to a place that’s supposed to be healing. We get more wrapped up in well meaning virtue signaling than we do actual virtue, and end up fostering division in the name of inclusion. Nobody needs to “hear our voices.” They need to experience our actions, and be heard from where they are. To be loved as Jesus loves them. Not as our “advocacy group” tells us we should love them, but from a place where they’re truly heard, felt, and loved. Not from a pedestal where we try to force inclusion on others, as so many attempt to do to our cultural demise.
If we want to love people, it has to be up close and personal. Not sign carrying or flag waving, but by hearing and listening, and often stepping back and allowing others to chime in, because none of us have all the answers. More than anything, we have to be humble. Forget that we have that “college degree,” put away our “pride,” and get our hands dirty. It’s ok to wash them afterwards. What matters is that we’re there. Not with our opinions, but with our consciences and our souls. Loving them as they are, with Jesus by our side. All in, and totally His.❤️🙏On
