As we were standing out in the cold Christmas morning handing out various items to the homeless in downtown Phoenix I had to keep reminding myself it was actually Christmas morning. This is because we help pick up bagels during the week and every Sunday we are downtown with the Bagel Ministry with the same people at the same location (at least while we are in Phoenix!).
While we were downtown that morning the streets were full of people handing out items (some good like clothes and food, some not such a great idea like beer and cigarettes!), it was so full in fact we were unable to set up at our “usual” spot on 12th Ave. We turned the corner onto Madison, pitched our canopy, set up the tables and got out all the donated items to hand out.
Since several people there were familiar with our set up they began making an orderly line, unlike the beer where it was a mob of people! As they came through many said thanks for coming but many said see you Sunday because they knew Tarrin (head of the bagel ministry) would be back with them talking, handing out bagels, water and lemonade or hot chocolate. They know Tarrin and have built a relationship with her during the time she has handed out bagels (which started back in August 2008 with cupcakes!) She talks to people, finds out their struggles, prays with them, hands out resource booklets which she has made up consisting of shelters, churches, meal locations, etc. and feeds them in the process with a yummy bagel.
As we began packing stuff up (not that we had stuff left over, it was basically the canopy and coolers) I watched a vehicle park behind us, two women get out, open up the back of the truck and hand out sack lunches. As soon as the lunches were gone they were back in their truck and gone and I wondered if they even said hello to anyone. I applaud them for that step in helping and it takes everyone some sort of first step, but where do we go after that first step? Do we sit back in our comfortable home or do we go out next week and help again? Do we tell our friends what a great feeling it was to help on Christmas morning and say we should do that more often but then go back to work Monday morning and push it aside because of our busy schedule?
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27 ESV
There are so many opportunities out there to “visit orphans and widows in their affliction” but we must take that first step, again I’m thankful the two women came down with sack lunches and pray they will hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit and continue helping in some way.
How are you being called to help and more importantly, how are you going to answer?