Some of the things I wondered about before we started going to the park to help with Operation Soup and Smokes was, what exactly were they doing, what role would I be expected to play, what could I possibly do, what would I say, what if someone asked me something that I didn’t know, was I expected to walk up to complete strangers and preach, would I be uncomfortable, would I be gulp, safe?

I don’t know why I thought of some of those questions.  Maybe it was because of preconceived notions.  Maybe it was because I still had lingering long-drilled religious-ease (is that a word?) talk swirling around in my head that to witness you had to witness.

Sometimes I just need to be reminded.  One of the scriptures that the Lord impressed again upon my heart was Acts 1:8.  Here is Acts 1:1-10.  I’ve included the whole passage so you can see the whole context.  Plus, it also is a source of comfort for me to know that those that actually walked with Jesus didn’t really get it sometimes.  They needed to be reminded.  We are really not so different today.

Acts 1: ¹ In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach ² until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. ³ After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. ⁴ On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with^[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with^[b]the Holy Spirit.”

⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

⁹ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

¹⁰ They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

The Bible is clear on what it means to be a witness.  It doesn’t say “to witness” it says “be a witness”.  It is also clear how the Holy Spirit will do that.  We are not left on our own abilities or strengths or knowledge.  Whew!  That’s a relief.  That takes a huge weight off doesn’t it?

Looking back, I also don’t know why I would have thought about being uncomfortable considering the people that were going.  I mean they don’t make me uncomfortable.  I enjoy their company, I look at the examples of how they are living.  Maybe my uncomfortableness was actually self-examination.

Whatever, my initial hesitations were, it finally just came down to “why not?”  There was a need, I could cook or bake something.  Maybe there wasn’t the money available to provide as much as we could have before, but we could provide what we had.  If not cooking or baking, I can serve the food, I can smile, I can talk.

Now as far as what if I was asked something I didn’t know?  Well, it isn’t exactly any secret that I can talk.  (There is a reason I had “talks to much” on my report cards growing up).  I decided that I would have to just have faith that God would provide the words that I needed or the ears to hear or eyes to see what I needed to prompt a discussion.  So far that has worked.  There definitely isn’t any method other than that.  Every week my discussions are completely random with people.  (Thinking about that, my brain works pretty randomly at times, so this is a good thing.)

So when we are asked what do we do?  This is pretty much it…we are ourselves, loving people, led by the Holy Spirit to be a witness the way He directs.

Wow…what a difference in the weather from the previous visit.  The sun was shining with temperatures in the low 70’s.  We expect high 80’s this week!

Met two guys who had just arrived the previous night after walking six days from the coast.  Craig asked if they would like something to eat, they said “man, we’re just thankful for anything!”.  Six days of walking!  Can you imagine yourself doing that?

We also met another gentlemen new to the area from another part of the state.  He came up to us when we started to unload the car, and helped.  He stayed around listening to everyone talking.  He started talking to me about how God puts people in your life when you need them.  He said he just began to realize that now that he is older, (he just turned 50).  Haha older, we joked about that for a bit. He said his mother was a religious person, she didn’t get to church much, but she talked about it at home.  He said he had a “Bible for dummies, well it wasn’t called that, it was one of those study Bibles, but it helped him a lot”.  I laughed and told him I had one of those too, and yes, they did help a lot!

We spent some time talking with Levi and Jason, both whose ministry is walking closely with the homeless.  Jason is in transition housing and asks for your prayers as he is actively seeking to be an ordained minister.   He is, to put it in his words, “following Levi’s foot steps as he walks with Christ”.  They both can become discouraged at times when they feel “under attack” and ask that you pray for them.

Right now we decide when we are returning to the park – while we are at the park.  That’s because we usually can coordinate everyone’s schedule then.  People hang around talking and ask when we will be back.

We had decided that we would be returning again on Wednesday.  I called out to John to let him know that we would be back on Wednesday.  He said, “Thanks for telling me”, gave me a hug and then said “I’ll miss you guys till then.”  I told him “Why thanks John, we’ll miss seeing you too.”  He came up and hugged me again and said “I love you”.  I told him, “John, I love you too.”

It continues to be humbling how a simple act of kindness, whether it is a bite of food, a kind word, listening ear or just plain genuine interest means so much to some.  Being there, just seeing, being present in the moment, can make a difference.

I read this line recently in a book:

To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.   – Brandi Snyder

If I can be the one person who shows Christ’s love in a life, then let me be that one person.

The more that I see and read you can tell that God is working in big ways in the homeless community all over the States, and in other countries.  Please continue to keep all in your prayers!

Blessings!