Homeless and lonely - (Saturday a little early)

" Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.
Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
See how my enemies have increased
and how fiercely they hate me!
Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope is in you."
Psalm 25: 16-25

I had lunch with a homeless guy once in Toronto. We developed a quick intimacy over our conversation and a plate of whatever it was we were serving that day in the soup kitchen. Towards the end of our meal, I asked him a question, not knowing whether he'd answer me, or send me back a stupefied stare. I asked him, "what the hardest part of being homeless was," and the moment it left my mouth, I wished that I could've grabbed it a jammed it back in there. Stupid question, right? Well, truth be told, he didn't seem offended at all. In fact he truly seemed appreciative of the question.

His answer moved me, and I never forgot it. He looked me square in the eyes, took a sip from his styrofoam coffee cup and told me, "The hardest part of being homeless is the loneliness. It's like you don't exist. People walk past you and over you like your a piece of garbage and not a real person. Being homeless is lonely."

Needless to say, my heart broke for him, and all the other lonely people on the streets. God did not design people to be lonely and afflicted, rather to be valued children of God in vibrant affirming relationship with Him. From that day on, whenever I pass a homeless child of God on the streets of the city I make sure to turn towards them and look them straight in the eyes. I want them to know that I see their humanity - that I don't think they're garbage - that they are valuable.

Our sin has made us spiritually homeless, lonely apart from our God. Even after we have come to faith in Him and had our relationship renewed, we can still feel the pain and affliction of loneliness when we sin and push God away - running away from home and back into the streets. We were never meant to endure affliction and hurt and loneliness.

Thanks be to God, that He does not ignore us, or walk past us with scorn. Thank God that He treats us much better than we treat each other. God turns towards us, looks us square in the eyes, and embraces us. Every time we sin and alienate ourselves from Him, every time we run away from Him, He chases us down, forgives our sins, and loves us all over again. Truly, our hope is in Him.

Lord, look upon our affliction and distress and take away all of sins. Guard our lives and rescue us. AMEN

Be God's, Scott