Last week a group of us went to downtown Orlando and walked around. We went to a jazz lounge and then decided to walk down Church St. As we walked around we began to notice all the brokenness the city has to offer. Whether it was the young adults getting ready to "get some" while they were partying it up at the clubs or the packs of homeless people who sat outside the clubs waiting for a handout or even just a smile - downtown Orlando is extremely broken.
Our group continued to walk around until we came upon a man and his son. The father was standing asking if people would give him money so he could buy food for he and his son; his son could not have been more than 5 years old. As the man began talking to us, our heart just broke. Granted, it is probably better to give someone in his situation food instead of money but nevertheless, we felt convicted and we opened our wallets. He gave his thanks and and we said goodbye; we also said God bless to him. As we walked away we felt we had more to do for this man and his son. Our group huddled up and we prayed. We prayed for the people that we just encountered and that they would find relief from their situation and that others could extend a hand of kindness to them as well.
...
Fast forward to last night and we were in Orlando again. We went to the jazz lounge again and we were walking back to the car until we stopped again; another homeless man was sitting by a bench. This time only one of us had cash on hand and my friend selflessly gave the cash he had in his wallet to the older gentleman. After he said thank you we said God bless to him. I told my friend I wish I could have done more and was that I was upset because I had no money to give. He quickly replied by saying these people need much more than money.
As I reflect on these two events I continue to think about what my friend told me and how all I said to these people in need was "God bless". Why was all I could think about is what these children of God needed in an Earthly sense? Why could I only say "God bless" to them? Did I feel like by me saying that simple phrase that my presenting the Gospel to them was completed?
I'm not too sure why all of this happened but I am hoping to change my actions. I hope that next time I see someone in need that I can sacrifice more time for their eternal sake and show them more love than just a simple "God bless".
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ReplyDeleteI can relate to those questions you have Ryan. ‘Why was all I can think about is what these children of God needed in an Earthly sense? ‘I think this happens to all of us, but as we grow in our spirituality it will change. Though I’m still in the beginning of my walk, every time I take a step further I realize these things that I took lightly or didn’t realize at all. The fact that you notice these things is good it just means that now you can continue growing.
ReplyDeleteI am apart of a D-group called BASIC. BASIC is a group of FCC students who go to down town Orlando (Every Sunday at 3pm we meet in the sub and then go to Down Town Orlando) and preach the word to homeless people and we do all we can to help them. We pray for them, we tell them about God and how wonderful he is and if their in need of something like clothing, shoes, or food we keep them in our prayers and do our best to retrieve those items. (We even have a can box in the Sub, in front of the office) To me this sounded great, because we’re working for God and spreading His word, pretty much, we’re doing well, we’re serving the Lord. I still do think it’s great and wonderful, but I found myself thinking the same question as you did, “Why could I only say ‘God bless’ to them?” “Why can’t I answer all their questions?” and so on and so forth. Things like this bothered me, they still do to a point.
“Why could I only say ‘God bless’ to them?” I didn’t realize it but a wise student told me the same thing that was said to you, “…these people need much more than money.” It took me awhile to understand what he meant by that. But then when I looked at one specific woman’s face that was filled with pain, sadness and brokenness, I saw what he was talking about. Though these people do need earthly things they need God more. Though I thought by saying ‘God bless’ I wasn’t helping them at all it actually is helpful, and I hope it is helpful with this specific woman. Without God there is nothing, without God we would be nothing, so God’s love is a blessing, and we all need that.
“Why can’t I answer all their questions?” I remember at one point this was an excuse for me. I was afraid to go back to Down Town Orlando due to my fear and insecurity of not knowing the answers. But then a good friend of mine told me that, I don’t have to have all the answers. As long as I know that God loves me and the person I’m speaking with then I’m fine. But it would always get me so frustrated that I don’t have all the answers due to my assumption of me not reading the Bible as much as I should have as a child and right now. To be honest, last weekend was the first time I picked up a Bible on my own accord and just started reading. I finished my first book, the book of Job. So many bad things would happen to Job, yet, he was a good man. I didn’t understand, why would God let this happen to him? Why would got allow the devil to do this when God already knew that Job would not turn against him? As I started spamming my questions to a good friend of mine, I realized. I wasn’t afraid of their questions that they’d ask me, but my questions that I don’t know myself.
We can all relate to similar questions that you have and the exact questions that you have. Events like this occur so we can be aware and grow in our spirituality.
I can relate to those questions you have Ryan. ‘Why was all I can think about is what these children of God needed in an Earthly sense? ‘I think this happens to all of us, but as we grow in our spirituality it will change. Though I’m still in the beginning of my walk, every time I take a step further I realize these things that I took lightly or didn’t realize at all. The fact that you notice these things is good it just means that now you can continue growing.
ReplyDeleteI am apart of a D-group called BASIC. BASIC is a group of FCC students who go to down town Orlando (Every Sunday at 3pm we meet in the sub and then go to Down Town Orlando) and preach the word to homeless people and we do all we can to help them. We pray for them, we tell them about God and how wonderful he is and if their in need of something like clothing, shoes, or food we keep them in our prayers and do our best to retrieve those items. (We even have a can box in the Sub, in front of the office) To me this sounded great, because we’re working for God and spreading His word, pretty much, we’re doing well, we’re serving the Lord. I still do think it’s great and wonderful, but I found myself thinking the same question as you did, “Why could I only say ‘God bless’ to them?” “Why can’t I answer all their questions?” and so on and so forth. Things like this bothered me, they still do to a point.
“Why could I only say ‘God bless’ to them?” I didn’t realize it but a wise student told me the same thing that was said to you, “…these people need much more than money.” It took me awhile to understand what he meant by that. But then when I looked at one specific woman’s face that was filled with pain, sadness and brokenness, I saw what he was talking about. Though these people do need earthly things they need God more. Though I thought by saying ‘God bless’ I wasn’t helping them at all it actually is helpful, and I hope it is helpful with this specific woman. Without God there is nothing, without God we would be nothing, so God’s love is a blessing, and we all need that.
“Why can’t I answer all their questions?” I remember at one point this was an excuse for me. I was afraid to go back to Down Town Orlando due to my fear and insecurity of not knowing the answers. But then a good friend of mine told me that, I don’t have to have all the answers. As long as I know that God loves me and the person I’m speaking with then I’m fine. But it would always get me so frustrated that I don’t have all the answers due to my assumption of me not reading the Bible as much as I should have as a child and right now. To be honest, last weekend was the first time I picked up a Bible on my own accord and just started reading. I finished my first book, the book of Job. So many bad things would happen to Job, yet, he was a good man. I didn’t understand, why would God let this happen to him? Why would got allow the devil to do this when God already knew that Job would not turn against him? As I started spamming my questions to a good friend of mine, I realized. I wasn’t afraid of their questions that they’d ask me, but my questions that I don’t know myself.
We can all relate to similar questions that you have and the exact questions that you have. Events like this occur so we can be aware and grow in our spirituality.
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