The Least of These

On Wednesday July 16, 2008 a homeless man approached my family on the streets of Memphis.

We’ve all been there. You want to avoid the person but sometimes you get “caught.” This man wanted some money for food. He said he was starving. I asked him how long he’d been homeless and he said a long time. I asked him about family. He said he had no one. I asked him about shelters and he said he had to pay $6 to get in the mission. We were in a quandary. As most people, we didn’t want him to waste our money on alcohol or drugs. We were unsure as to whether or not to trust him. He continued to talk to us and started to cry asking if we’d just pray for him. I told him that sure, I would pray for him. He stepped forward, reached out his hand and instinctively I took it. We all stood there and prayed. Me, my family, and this homeless man.

We ended up giving him a couple of dollars and left.

I couldn’t get it out of my head. That moment spent grasping his hand and praying with him. No stranger has ever asked me to pray for them before. But how would I, could I possibly refuse a request when it’s the very thing I profess to believe?? And how could I teach my children to be compassionate to those less fortunate than us if I turned my head and walked away or cringed at the thought of touching someone who was homeless? They were there – my kids. They witnessed everything.

God tells us that whatever we do to “the least of these” so also, we do to Him. But who really, was the least of these? Was it the homeless man or maybe – was it me and my family? In hindsight, I didn’t handle the situation very well. In hindsight, as soon as he asked me to pray for him I should have asked Him about his salvation. I could have witnessed to him. Yes, I prayed for him but I could have done more. I should have done more. And the money? What is a couple of dollars to us? We spend more than that on a fast food meal or some candy and soda pop. A couple of dollars. It’s really not up to me what someone else does with it. It’s only up to me to have compassion and give. Then, the choice is up to the needy individual. If they don’t use what I’ve given them wisely – they will have to account for that to God.

No, I think the “least of these” is sometimes me. Giving of so little when I have so much more to give. Giving so little of my money, my time, and my compassion.

I don’t think I will ever forget that moment I spent on the streets of Memphis with that homeless man. I won’t ever forget holding his hand. I just won’t. And I will think of him and I will pray for him many more times. Hoping that somehow, some way he will catch a break.

I have so much. If I’m ever given the chance to redo something like that over again, I hope I can do it right and not waste an opportunity or a moment to share God’s love and salvation. I hope that I won’t think about the value of a dollar – and I’ll just give all I have in the hopes of bettering someone else. Even if they make the wrong choice, I think I WILL have bettered someone else through the process. Doing something like that is bound to change a heart.

Mine.