True justice

I am reading a book called "Bent Hope" by Tim Huff. He works with homeless youth in Toronto and the book tells many of the stories of the youth that he has worked with. The book breaks a person's heart, while at the same time gives hope for the young boys, girls, men and women that live on the streets around the World. Reading the book is an odd experience, it is both easy to read (he writes each story in a simple and poetic way), yet at the same time is very hard to read (each story brings me to tears in one way or another). I would recommend that everyone read this book. It challenges the way that person thinks about the hurting in the World. We all have our story and things that shape who we are and where we are, and in reality we are not that different from each other in many ways, whether we grew up in prosperity or on the street. I see the homeless in a new light, and in many of the stories I am humbled at the generosity, love and humility that the young men and women show to others. Through most of the stories I am humbled to see how much more they demonstrate how I want to live than how I am living in reality!

I have had a heart for the hurting and homeless within Canada and the World for years. While pursuing my Undergraduate at the University of Regina I helped every week with a children's ministry within the core of Regina, just playing basketball with the older kids and then just sitting with the younger kids and playing with their toys. I then led week-long missions teams into inner-city Calgary while working at Bethany College, and then while pursuing my MBA I was assigned the task of organizing opportunities for my fellow students to volunteer with the homeless in Edmonton.

Though God has spoken to me repeatedly over the years telling me that I need to love the homeless and hurting, I always seem to lose track of His voice and forget that He has put that passion in my heart. Everywhere I go God directs my path to help in this way, and then I move to a new location and forget about that passion until He puts another opportunity in my path again!

God has really been speaking to me lately about how all Christians are called to seek Biblical Social Justice in every area of their lives. That could mean something as simple as ensuring that people at work are treated fairly and with respect. But, that also means not turning a blind eye to the calling that God has for all Christians to serve and help the homeless, widow and orphan in this World. I have been reminded of this over and over again this summer and fall. I can not turn a blind eye to the starving and dying in this World, whether they are in my backyard, or across the Ocean. I must feel Christ's compassion for the hurting in this World, and that compassion must not freeze me, but must lead me to action to bring justice, restoration and reconciliation where ever I see this injustice.

People are homeless for many different reasons, and through what I have been reading, watching and listening to, as well as what God has been revealing to me through prayer and reading the Bible, I have come to realize more and more that I am called to love people where they are at, no matter what they are going through or have went through. I am called to truly love the orphans, widows and homeless of this World, even if that hurts!

Yes, I am called to share my resources, but most of all I am called to share my life, time, and love with people. This must come to the point of sacrifice and pain in order to bring true Biblical Social Justice!

I do not know where this will lead me or what it will look like, but I do not want to forget this call, but want God's call to lead me, whether that is to my next door neighbour, the homeless person I walk by on my way to work or church, or clear across the World to help end human trafficking in Asia or love the rescued child soldier in the DR Congo!

I have heard His call...

I have been changed...

And I will not be the same!

Tim Huff wrote a revised version of Matthew 25:35-36,40 in his book, and I think it says more than anything else I have said:

For when I was hungry-you understood that the sustenance of food is just a start, and that the ache for the nutrition of education, work, play and a sense of home-you gave me something to eat.

For when I was thirsty-thirsting for joy and the opportunity to feel good about who I am and who God made me-you gave me something to drink.

I was a stranger-a stranger to innocence, tenderness and mercy-you invited me in.

I needed clothes-to be clothed in safety and peace and rest-and you clothed me.

I was sick-sick of running and living in depression, sick of never belonging or fitting in-and you looked after me.

I was in prison-the horrific prison of addiction and all the terrors that brought me to that place-and you came to visit me.

... I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these...you did for me"

"Justice as a gift, not as a punishment. Justice as life-giving, not as a consequence. Justice 'enlivened by grace,' not born of fear. And most of all, justice for the desperate, abused, hurting, addicts, homeless and scared, long before they are forced to run for their lives.

Justice that has nothing to do with judges or juries. The kind of justice that opens hearts wide enough to know for sure that this story is not about (violence) at all."