Invisible People

She’s a pretty girl. Talented, gifted, friendly, outgoing; yet, lonely, troubled, and searching!  She’s willing to tell her story, and it’s full of life events that causes her plenty of grief.  If you want to see more pictures, search “Invisible Humans” on Facebook.  Like the Page and let me know what you think!

What’s the Limit of Love?

Today was an exciting day for me…a monumental day if you will!  I have known Mike and Marsha for approximately 4 years…and today was the day that something exciting happened.  Mike is an addict and drug dealer who loves Marsha, an addict who prostitutes herself to pay for their habits.  Experiences of health issues, family death, abusive relationships, serious accidents/injuries, landed them in despair and in the streets of Flint fighting for their lives.  No place to live, they “hustle” just to make enough money to get something to eat.  With no health/dental care, their gums bleed and their bodies are filled with sores.  With no roof over their head, their bodies smell and they long for a simple shower.  They live from minute to minute and try to avoid human contact because of the judgement that comes from others who believe they can “help themselves.”  As I met with them today over a meal at a local deli, God orchestrated something special (a Christian reporter, a Christian shelter counselor, and a Christian Men’s Shelter Director).  After being told for 4 years (even by well meaning Christian people) that I should not “associate” with such people, I saw the hand of God work!  Mike and Marsha will enter into a drug rehab program this weekend and will be transferred into a shelter for transitional living and professional development programs.  Only God could do this!  This is a long shot and both are in need of a miracle to make it through this journey.  I am reminded that when God enters our lives and we have hit rock bottom, that we are eligible for His greatest blessings…in the form of a miracle!  I’m not sure where our love should begin and end, but I am reminded that we’re not here for ourselves.  I gave them a drive…I had to clean my truck.  I spent an afternoon with them and it cost me a dinner and some toiletries.  Such a small cost when compared to what God has done for us through His son on the cross.  SO….where’s your sacrifice?  Don’t miss the opportunity to invest in someone today…it’s the best return on your time and effort than anything else you can do!  Not even a government shutdown can “crash the market” of human investments!  By the way, the book that Marsha is holding in her hand is Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  She is searching for how God can really love her?

Think About It?

Ever take your clean drinking water for granted?  Ever get frustrated for not having a new idea for dinner?  Ever think your house is too small?  Ever get frustrated for having to wait too long to see your doctor?  Think about it!  

In the Fight?

Everywhere I look, I find people fighting for (or against) something.  A big fight in Michigan is with the union and the recent passage of law making our state a “right to work” state.  Gay marriage is the big fight in Seattle who just made gay marriage legal.  The right to bear guns is another fight that is a “hot button” in many states.  The NFL is dealing with the recent murder/suicide by one of their players and his girlfriend.  Another development just yesterday was the death of an NFL player who was killed while riding in a car (driven by another NFL player) while alcohol had been involved…and some are fighting to hold the NFL responsible.  I was just in PT (physical therapy) this morning and next to me was a recent US Marine who was rehabbing injuries sustained while fighting for our country in Afganistan.  No simple injuries, but shrapnel in his brain, loss of his left eye, and other multiple injuries throughout his body.  He said, “I would go and do it all over again to support my country!”  We are now heading towards a “fiscal cliff” (as the news media puts it) and the Democrats and Republicans can’t get along with one another or agree on most anything.  Seems as though each party is always fighting with the other!  But still, we all fight for what we believe in! Take a look at the attached pictures…look CLOSELY into their eyes.  They are also fighting…for a clean drink of water!  We are so busy with our own fight (and some are important ones) while we miss those near us (or far away in Guatemala).  Let’s not get so busy with our own fight that we miss the opportunity to help others.  Maybe taking our attention off some of these things could help us to love others differently…then maybe there would be no fightleft in us (or at least the need to win)?  Don’t get so “hung up” in your fight that you forget the good word that teaches us to love.  During her life, there were “fights” all around her, but she continued (until her death) to love those less fortunate.  She lived in squaller while she single handedly raised more money to fight poverty than any one person in history.  Mother Teresa fought the good fight!  What are you fighting for?

Want to win your fight?  Go give your life away and you’ll forget what you were fighting about!

Be Grateful!

These are a few people I ran into on the streets of Toronto last week.  They all have a story (sickness, job loss, family violence, abandonment, financial problems, divorce, addiction, etc.) just like you and I.  Are you content and grateful for what you have today?  Just ask Gina, Brandon, Hosea, Sheila, Jackson, or Tom why you should be!