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Homeless and Needy: This is a term we rarely think about; we leave our heated and cooled comfortable homes in our comfortable cars and see the homeless person on the street corner. We see them standing there usually with a sign that reads homeless and hungry but we quickly look away as if this problem will go away if we do not look at it. The sad truth is this could be any one of us standing there trying to get a little help.
I spent 20 years on the road driving a truck and have had the opportunity to meet some of the nations homeless. All the stories vary as well as the personalities and attitudes. I met one gentleman that was different than most, he was just wanting a ride; not being the typical bum we so readily label the homeless with. He would work doing odd jobs to make money for his needs and just enjoyed traveling the country. He would stay south in the winter and north in the summer. He told me that he had been doing this for about 10 years and enjoyed it. I questioned him about his motive for this life style and was told that he was freer than me and after thinking and talking to him awhile I realized he was right. He had no mortgage, car payment or any other expense other than food to worry about. He didn’t have to get up and go to work every day for someone that only acknowledged him if he didn’t show up. This made a lot of sense to me, and I found myself a little envious of him being free enough to pretty much do what he wanted to do.
I have talked to people that some great tragedy has struck their life and they gave up on what we call normal life and went to the streets. There was one that told me he was very successful with money, had a great family, home etc. just like what we call normal and his wife and kids were killed. That was more than he could bear because everything he done was for them, so he gave up and chose to live on the streets. He seemed to be a very intelligent person so I have no reason not to believe his story.

Of course there are the typical homeless drunks. I was in Michigan and had stopped at a little diner for lunch, as I approached the door I saw this rough looking old man coming toward me, so I turned and looked at him and he asked if I had a couple dollars, then he replied I won’t lie to you I want something to drink! I was impressed with his honesty and gave him some money.
It is unfortunate that there are those that live in real nice homes and stand on the street corners making more in a day than we do in a week. For those I trust God to deal with them the way he sees fit. I pray that the hearts of people won’t grow cold because of a few. There are way more that genuinely need our help than there is of those that are crooks. I ask that God will guide me and you when it comes to giving or not giving to those that appear to be in need. If you are not sure give as if giving to the Lord and he will repay you. Mathew 25:35 paraphrased tells us to help those in need. Psalm 41:1 is kind of like a safety card for those of us that help the poor. The point I am trying to make is God calls us to help those in need. Many times through out the bible we are told to help the poor.
Don’t be afraid to have a conversation with a homeless person; after all they are the same as me and you. Most of them have just had a bad run of luck or some tragedy has hit them and they gave up. Find your local soup kitchen or homeless shelter and make some new friends, who knows you may have the thing some of them need to get back on track. A little compassion and kind words can go a long ways in making a homeless persons life a little brighter.

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