The other day, my wife and I were downtown ready to enjoy an evening out. While walking from the parking ramp toward Gay Street, we passed a panhandler. I stopped giving money to panhandlers long ago. This time, I looked at him and dropped a dollar in his hat. You see, it was as much for me as it was for him.
Once upon a time, I was in that boat. I never begged for money, but I dumpster dived and knew where to get good throw-away stuff. It’s been a long hard road leaving that life behind, and every time I see these folks I tighten up inside. On top of that unique brand of revulsion, I know intellectually about the game many of these folks are in, and there are better approaches to helping struggling people than dropping money.
Over time, the combination of disgust and rationalizing can harden to the point where the object of one’s disdain no longer appears human. It’s a progressive disease, and easy to mask by compensating with churchy things and a little charity. If we have enough people around us who think we’re good, we can avoid dealing with “that problem”. Until something hits us and we realize it’s not okay, which is precisely what happened to me on the way to Gay Street that evening. I simply saw that I did not see that panhandler as a fellow human being made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26). Engaging him, even a little, as a fellow human being made in God’s image, was the antidote I needed. A dollar was a small price to pay for the beginning of healing.
What about you? Who are the people you no longer see as fellow human beings made in the image of God? Political enemies? Immigrants? Church people? Heathen? Bosses? Workers? [_______fill in the blank] The Kingdom of God is not a collection of personally fulfilled individuals who can’t stand each other. The Kingdom of God is the prodigal son returning and the elder brother joining the party because the love of the Father has healed them both (Luke 15). “All things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18). Let the healing begin.
Dr. Carl Grosse is an ordained pastor and author of Faith Along the Way, a weekly KnoxTNToday reflection encouraging readers to recognize God’s presence in everyday life and share His love with others.
Enjoyed this article? Read more Faith Along the Way reflections by Dr. Carl Grosse and learn more about him in his author bio on the same page. Find encouragement and inspiration for your own faith journey.
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