Monday, January 21, 2008

What I love?

This weekend I was reminded how materialistic I can be. I spent some time Saturday with several of my students taking warm clothes to the homeless. They were so thankful for the small gifts of gloves, scarfs, sweatshirts, jackets, and toboggans. I watched as our students gave out these items and prayed with them while cars zoomed by. They passed by hopefully wondering why so many students were out in the cold with homeless people. To be honest, I have been the person in the car so many times. I pass by people in need and I give nothing because I was told once or twice that people begging for money just use it for "booze." It has been etched into my mind that these "people" are different and bad. I was following Saturday behind some students and I heard a man tell them that he was human just like them. He was so thankful for new gloves, socks, and a jacket. It was like Christmas! I thought to myself if circumstances were different, that could be me. If I lost hope, if I lost my family, maybe I would be living on the street. Saturday I fell in love with people again. I had a good time with them and with my students. I watched as one of my students saw a blanket in a concrete square and he asked me if someone slept there? I told him that was someone's home and to see his face was priceless. Many students, leaders, and myself had our eyes opened to a different world. I went to bed thinking about what I love. I love so many worldly things that in the long run make me feel pitiful. I will love people more than stuff. I will love God and be his hands and feet to all people everywhere. I have a new philosophy and new prayer. "Change me, change here, change everywhere." God use me to bring people to you!