I wish to elucidate why this small passage is important to me. Every Tuesday I get to make a choice. Shall I go to Street Hope, or shall I spend time with friends at a Bible study? They happen to coincide at the exact same time. It's a choice between heaven and hell.
At the bible study, we gather together to share a nice warm meal under a roof. We sit at the dinner table, give thanks, and eat. Then we study the scripture. All the earthly comforts are at our fingertips. And while I bask in the presence of my friends, I look out the window and see that it is raining. I'm torn inside, as I’m immediately transported to Pandora Street. I can see in my mind's eye homeless people shivering under the rain, as well as fellow Street hope members giving out food, sacrificing themselves for the sake of others. Everything juicy experience that I am having at this very moment, I long to be able to give to the folks outside. I feel anguish in my heart that I am not there with them. As a result of this pain, I prefer to close up my heart, especially when there's tension within my body, and pain across my back. I wish I could be out there, and yet I can't help but stay. The nourishment I get from my group's food and presence restores my vitality.
I try to alternate. One week with the study, the next at Pandora street. As I approach the street, I typically feel a pain arise within my body. A rage bubbles up and I want to point out the hypocritical world we live in. This pain appears to be getting stronger, and I've pin-pointed reasons why. Christ's teachings are about opening up the heart. In fact, breaking it. When the heart is open, everything is felt. It's actually agonizing to walk around anywhere where there are people as most people have a closed-off heart. They are obliviouas to their own pains. A person with a closed-heart can walk along the streets all merrily, pass by a homeless person, and simply feel a little bit of guilt. That guilt is retroflected anger. It is an elephant in the room which we'd all rather avoid. We avoid it because the homeless shine a light through the illusion of a secure society. If our society was indeed secure, there wouldn't be any homeless people on streets. But how much easier is it to say: "Its the homeles's fault! They are in that spot because they deserve it. They decided to do drugs," as opposed to, "the system we are is flawed. I too can end up like this person if I don't watch it" And indeed, it is entirely possible. And so we run around, make ourselves busy, build up our lives so that we can hopefully avoid being in their situation. The irony of the fear of homelessness is that we actually end up abandoning ourselves a little. Millions upon millions of people walk around in a semi-abandoned state of living because they overwork themselves. They are too afraid to say no to their employers, and also their employers don’t give them the option. As a result, many walk with their hearts are closed-off, and they grip on to a belief that working harder, acquiring more goods or services will alleviate this kind of suffering. How busy must we be to the extent that our society collectively abandons people on the street?
I know from direct experience that when I choose to be with the homeless over being in the company of my friends -with the intent of studying the bible of all things- that I actually understand the bible better. One night with the homeless giving food, showing compassion and love, is a direct application of Jesus's teachings. It trumps 10 sermon teachings, 10 bible study sessions, and months and months arguing over the real meaning behind what's written in a passage. What good is the word of God if you don't apply it? Its actually really simple.
To be out there is to follow Jesus’s guidance. He himself said it in Matthew 25:35-40, that when we feed, house and clothe even the least of our brothers, that we are doing those things to him as well. We're certainly not loving when we busy ourselves to a point where we neglect our neighbors' suffering.
Guillermo