To sit on a bench in a green is a privilege

To be able to see God in all His Glory

To be a naturalist is surreal

What happens when we see people sleeping on the grass and not for a nap, but as a bed

Do we look away

Do we drink our venti iced coffee and keep walking

Do we eat our pizza slices and walk

We need them too!

I’m talking about the homeless.

Today, I sat on a bench that I once slept on, homeless, in my early twenties

to see the number of homeless was heartbreaking

In the middle of Yale University, there were an endless number of homeless, hungry, and cold people.

I was reminded of my purpose that studying ministry is far more than preaching from a pulpit.

For me, it’s reaching out to those life has forgotten

We need them too!

Their lives matter, and they are worthy of dignity

When you see someone on the highway with a sign, their asks are not always for nefarious motives

People are hungry, thirsty, and need a hug

How can we call them Christians and not welcome them as one of us

We are all one paycheck away from being among them

A solid education doesn’t keep you from being homeless

A family doesn’t keep a family unit outside the shelter

We are no better than they are

If they need us, we need them too

The pain of homelessness weighs on the homeless like a bill you are dreading to pay

There are no food stamps for them because they have nowhere to cook

There is no SSDI or SSI because they don’t have an address

Even those like me on disability, food stamps, and Medicaid can only have these things because I have a home

I need them because I was one of them, and I need them

I don’t need them to boost my ego or build my pride

I need them to show the love of Christ

I need them to show respect and honor for them

I need them to be able to love

I need them to be able to feel and not be empty

I need them because I want them

I need you to want them too!

We never know their stories if we are too fearful to ask

We should listen

We need them

they’re not a burden or taking resources

They are not a problem for society

How prideful are we that we think our lives are better

They matter too

They have a name

They have a birthday

They have a story

They are someone’s child

They are someone’s sibling

They are someone’s loved ones

Bottom line, they too are a child of God

We need them! I want them! I love them!

I was them