I sat in the store parking lot waiting for anyone to let me out of the row and into the line of traffic inching their way towards the stop sign. One, Two, Three cars pass making no eye contact. They stayed so close to the car in front of them, it was obvious their car body language was saying, “Don’t even think about it. You don’t even exist to me. Four, Five Six, Seven, cars have passed now. I sat there wondering if the large majority of people on this planet have now arrived at a place where we see those around us with a lower value than ourselves. After the seventh car passed, I started inching more insistently forward, in hopes the driver of car #eight, would look at me. Car number eight felt my unrelenting eyes and finally when they could no longer ignore me; I raised my hand and looked at them questioningly and motioned that I wanted to turn. Thank goodness. They let me ease in. I know I upped the pressure but, I began growing fearful they’d find my half decomposed corpse still in the drivers seat in that parking row in a month. The truth is, we each make these choices every day. Do we wave someone in or do we watch out for ourselves and our own interests first. We have so many small and huge decisions on a daily basis, that determine the footprint we leave behind. Such a huge population of human beings worried about what carbon footprint we leave, and so few of them worried that our carbon footprints may be across the trampled faces of other human beings.
I think some of the hardest situations in my life, have been due to the feeling of profound loneliness. Whether it’s by accident or on purpose, the emotion of being unimportant to someone, is incredibly painful. I know that Jesus experienced this. I know in His darkest moments He experienced it even on the cross. It’s no wonder that He has promised us countless times that He will never leave us alone, that He can quench our thirst, feed our hunger, and chase the darkness away with the light that He is.
John 19: 28-30
I see this situation mirrored countless times, in a literal and figurative sense. How often do we hunger and thirst for something in our lives, and we either rejoice at the need being satisfied, or we mourn for the lack of satisfaction. When we live in plenty, we can forget how desperate the feelings of want and need are. Something that has always struck me as profound; is the manner of the homeless. Whatever they receive, they often also share with their other homeless comrades. They have a very real understanding that they are not the only one who is in need. There are countless stories online demonstrating this. I love this video on YouTube. It popped up on my Facebook feed and it’s stuck with me.
Matthew chapter 25: 41-46
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
How do we chase away darkness? Bring light. How do we feed a hungry soul? Share the bread of life. How do we quench the thirst of souls? Pour out the living water. How do we fight darkness? Shine the light.
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
We absolutely can fight hunger, thirst, and darkness in this world. We have been given plenty. We know where to find the fountain of living waters, and we daily eat the bread of life. Our souls are filled by the one who rained down manna. And Jesus’s light can shine brightly through us…and chase darkness away. Are we utilizing the plenty and sharing it with all those who desire it; or are we keeping it to ourselves? This story about Elijah and the widow, is such a good example of God rewarding us when we share.
1st Kings 17: 11-16
16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
We should share not only our tangible plenty, but our spiritual plenty. It’s in the smallest of things. It’s in selflessly waving someone in to the line of traffic. It’s in buying the homeless a meal, in being kind with a friendly smile, and in sharing our blessings with someone who needs encouragement. Every day we are faced with a decision to shine a light or cloak it. The little decisions are just as important as the big decisions, because that is where we reveal our fruit, and it determines whether we leave a sweet or a bitter taste in the mouths of other souls.
Mattew 7: 8:12
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
I love you my friends. I pray we feed those who hunger, and that the fruit we leave them with is sweet. All that we have been blessed with is meant to be shared to edify all of the souls we come into contact with. It’s our only chance to make a difference for good in this world. May we never hide our lights under a bushel for fear; Take your candle and go light the world. Huge hugs!
Mountains and Mustard Seeds 
Thank you Amy for shining your light into my day! I love that story about Elijah and the widow for it is virtually a “spiritual law”. Whenever we’ve helped someone who is less fortunate than ourselves,God has seen to it that our needs are met. Proverbs 19:17 says: He who is gracious and lends a hand to the poor lends to the Lord, And the Lord will repay him for his good deed. There are also other scriptures that say the same thing. I loved the song at the end, it moved me to tears. Thank you for blessing my day by carrying your candle…….
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Thank you so much! I’m so glad it lifted you up. Big hugs to you my friend.
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That was really a good reflection. When I’m driving, which is all the time since I’m an Uber driver, if I see a person who’s been waiting like you were I always let them in. Traffic should always be like a zipper effect; one car goes from one side and then the next. Los Angeles traffic is something else! I’ve noticed that every person that I’ve helped that was homeless I’ve never forgotten them. I remember all of them as if they became family in my heart. One of the things I couldn’t understand before I developed my deep relationship with Christ was how that homeless people always told me “God bless you” when I would give them help. I didn’t understand how they could love God when they were so down and out and why they weren’t blaming Him for not getting them out of their troubles. It took a lot of years and pain and trials before I began to understand that they recognized the help that came by way of me was actually by way of God who was using me. I love his people, especially the homeless and I pray for them always. I sometimes am disappointed with myself when I get too busy to remember they need help and so thank you for the reminder. I hope you’re doing well my friend. God bless you.
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Oh amen!!! I actually love an opportunity to help when it presents itself. When we help we are an extension of the hands of God, and His help on earth.
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Usually it only takes a second to let someone go in front of you. As far as the next light is concerned, you usually end up in about the same place. Does that much time matter to you? It shouldn’t in the greater scheme of things.
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Agreed.
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Speaking of the homeless… Without realizing it, my husband and I “housed” a homeless person for a long time and would have been happy to house them longer if it had not been that they kept letting our dog out of the back yard–too inconsiderate or unthankful to close the gate behind them as they left for the begging business each day. They had been sleeping under the crawl space of our house and left that door open too. During the winter months, the open door caused preventable temperature changes in our furnace and hot water heater.
We didn’t personally do anything about that situation; the city did. The restaurant at the head of the road had been robbed multiple times, as were several more affluent homes in the area. Without notice, the city (or county) cut down a grove of trees in a roundabout area where we turned into our neighborhood. They had discovered a whole community of homeless people (sharing such things as a generator which ran their TV, sofas and chairs, as well as stores of food and clothing) working out of a sheltered public property. The law officials were able to identify several faces from the hidden cameras owned by the restaurant.
Our city has a place for indigents and homeless people; it’s called Oliver Mission. But the ones living there have to obey house rules and help keep their place clean. Many do not like to be asked to clean up after themselves.
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Wow, that is wild. My husband is a police officer and works frequently with the homeless. So many of them have emotional or mental illnesses that prevent them from keeping a stable home. It’s really sad. I know some of them are just degenerates, but they are usually less in numbers than the mentally ill. I’m sure they appreciated the shelter for a time.
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Wonderful post and videos! 🤗💜 Jackie@KWH
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Thank you so much!
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