What requires taking more risk:
Jumping off a cliff on the side of a mountain with a parachute or asking a homeless man to lunch with you?
For me my initial gut answer would have been to jump; but, considering how many things I’ve jumped off of, inviting a homeless man to lunch was more risky.
Jump off a cliff and you know, to a certain extent, what you’re getting yourself into.
Asking a homeless person to share a meal with you… well the possibilities are endless
• • •. • • •
I met Louis a week ago,
on a street bench outside a bus station in Kuala Lumpur.
He sat between two of his friends.
All three shoeless, homeless, and running away from something.
Louis just so happened to be the one person God wanted me to see that day.
I started with the simple questions, which led to him asking why my friend and I were here.
Not long after, Louis spoke up and told us he was a christian and began sharing parts of his story.
He is an alcoholic and struggles with drugs. Although he grew up catholic and spoke about some of the steps he had once taken in his faith, he was completely defeated by life.
No where to go. Nobody to turn to.
His family, in-laws, wife and children lived in another town and he ends up in the city on the bench, when his lifestyle choices become too much for his family to handle.
What I kept hearing was this man trying to convince me that he was a bad person.
No stranger to the power of sin, shame, and fear;
I was pleading with the Lord to convince him otherwise.
Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John10:10
After praying for him we invited Louis to McDonalds and he kindly accepted.
It was the first time in my life I invited a homeless person to have a meal with me, and it was exciting.
What I wanted, more than anything was to actually sit down, at a table, over a carton of French fries and show this man the dignity he believed he didn’t deserve.
When we got closer, he said he didn’t belong there, with us, in McDonalds- as if he didn’t belong anywhere.
He said he didn’t want a full meal or a drink, just french fries- as if he deserved to have nothing at all.
I wanted to show him I didn’t believe any of that, because the Jesus I know says he didn’t just belong but he deserved way more than the large fry.
As the carton of fries dwindles dow
and all of us have finished our meal,
he adds one request.
Money.
And I hurt.
All of me.
Because not long ago, I would have given him the money and believed, out of obligation, it was what I was suppose to do.
But this time, obedience was a bit more risky.
I had the responsibility to show Louis what the world couldn’t give him.
What money couldn’t buy.
Money couldn’t fix how his family feels about the choices he’s made for his life.
Money couldn’t take away the shame and guilt he carries.
Money couldn’t eliminate the fears he’s too afraid to speak into existence because the world doesn’t care.
Money couldn’t,
but God could!
When God looks at us, He does not see what has been done to us or what we’ve allowed ourselves to do. He sees what He has given us. Pure hearts- fully loved and completely forgiven.
I wanted Louis to remember Jesus.
Jesus, who sat with the tax collectors and sinners.
Jesus, who broke cultural norms to sit with a woman at a well hiding her guilt and shame.
Jesus who teaches us that love doesn’t judge.
Love, doesn’t exclude. Love, forgives. Love, conquers all.
Jesus, who is Love.
And love changes things.
After I had said no, Louis looked to the others at the table with the same request. When we offered to pray, he excused himself from the table and left.
• • • • • •
I want to clarify that I am not saying jumping off a cliff isn’t risky.
And I’m definitely not saying we can’t, or we shouldn’t bless those around us with money.
We absolutely can and we absolutely should when God put some that desire on our heart.
What I am saying is that there are many people in this world, including me, that need to be reminded that there is some kind of risk in almost every decision we make. And we get to choose what is worth the risk.
The risk-taking that was required in sitting with this man for lunch is the kind of risk we need to take more of.
Risk in being rejected because of what we believe. Risk in unintentionally offending the other person when speaking the truth in love. Risk in being judged by the world because what we’re doing doesn’t make sense. Risk in our own hearts breaking for what is actually breaking theirs.
But even if they reject us.
Even if the others around us judge us.
Even if our heart is breaking for what has broken theirs.
Even if it doesn’t make sense.
What we’ve chosen to do, and the risk we decided to take, is totally worth it!
XOXO
Tay
The less risky…
^ View of Pokhara, after running of the side of Sarangkot Mountain in Nepal
^ My pilot told me to take my helmet off- and I never put it back on.
^ Look Momma, no hands!
