He sat on the cement under the awning of a local store to shade him from the heat. His dog lapping deep heaves of air; he wiping sweat from his brow. There was a collection of half-used water bottles next to a backpack with his life’s possessions, donated by people who drank half of their drink and gave him the remains.
I smiled a small smile and uncomfortably shuffled on. Living in a city my whole life has made me anesthetized to homelessness. But poverty of soul, relationship, and community unnerve me… it breaks my heart. His face, his half smile, his panting dog spoke volumes without saying a word.
I want to live out the whole gospel, not a commercialized version of it. Not only on the parts that I want to, but the full principle of loving God with all that I am and loving my neighbor as I love myself. If I speak on stages and write behind computer screens, yet have not love, I’m nothing more than a clanging symbol, an annoying gong.
On the return back to the car, I resolved to:
- Talk to him. Know him.
- Give him more than half bottles of used water. Give him the full gospel. Give him love.
- Treat him like he was me.
- Ask how I could pray for him.
- Don’t cry. [I have a horrible tendency to cry around poverty. It’s annoying. Just call me the weeping prophet.]
I neared the young kid and his dog like I was visiting an old friend. Hey man! Your dog is beautiful. How’s he doing in this heat? That one question made Dustin a real person, not just some guy with a need. We spoke about our love for dogs, the heat, and the odd weather we’ve had.
I asked if he needed anything. He declined saying he was fine. I insisted. He accepted.
I walked into the small market, grabbed a basket, and made a mental checklist. Nuts. Dog food. Gatorade. Crackers. Toilet paper. Snickers. Icecream. Doggy treats. Jerky. Multivitamins. Water. A full bottle of water.
I saw Dustin stroking his dog. His only friend. I knew he needed another one. I knelt down and handed him two bags of groceries, while pulling out an icecream sandwich… my favorite icecream sandwich. He was completely taken back. I asked how I could pray for him during the week. He told me he applied for a job at South Coast Plaza and hoped he’d get it. I told him I would pray for him as well as tell my friends to pray for him too… I hope you do.
Bianca, I want to thank you for once again putting it into perspective for me and Dustin is absolutely in my prayers. __K
Way to make Dustin a true friend! By approaching him as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Just asking his favorite snack-perfect idea as you walk into a grocery store! Thanks for the example of how to make it look easy while feeling totally awkward and nervous. Praying for Dustin's job prospects. 🙂
Oh man.
I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Truly. I want to love His people, to embody the message of the gospel…and yet, I often don't. Most days I am a gong, a cacophony of lovelessness.
Thanks for modeling the message of salvation, Bianca!
Proud to be call you a friend…
Wow. This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
I had a similar experience in high school, but I didn't quite go the extra mile.
Will be praying for Dustin.
pray for Dustin..I wont forget
cannot even express how this has touched me…i will be praying for dustin…
Stop making me cry in my cubicle! Praying for Dustin and his job position, and all those that are struggling with unemployment (my dad included–I'm selfishly asking for your prayers).
Wow. Talk about leading by example. Praying for Dustin, too…
Thank you guys so much!!! I'm going to look for him next week and tell him ya'll are praying for him 🙂
so beautiful. I love your heart, B.
Beautiful. Understand completely…. 🙂 Thank you for the reminder that love is in the moment to moment…person to person, no matter who they are.
Beautiful. Living out the Gospel is a beautiful, beautiful thing.
thank you for sharing this… I think that the Lord is trying to tell me something and He has sure used you. I'm praying for Dustin <3
this is so beautiful. i am praying for dustin too!!
thank you for telling me about dustin. i am praying for him.
You have such a way with words. I'm also praying for that job Dustin applied for. =)
"I want to live out the whole gospel, not a commercialized version of it" So good! Thank you so much for sharing. Praying for more boldness and courage to step out to get beyond myself. It's not about me. It's all about Him.
you are a blessed women used of God. Love you B!
The mission trip was marked by heat & humidity, where non-stop sweating was the norm & water was essential. I put two large water bottles in the freezer the night before, knowing that we’d have a long day of ministering on our last day in Mexico. The next day, I drank my first bottle of water and salivated for the second bottle that still had a half chunk of ice. I couldn’t wait to taste the refreshing liquid! Suddenly we arrived at our last stop….the makeshift home of a blind & legless man with diabetes. His home was more like a cave, surrounded by a block wall and heaps of trash. As I walked toward the entrance, I heard the man telling his guest, “I haven’t had water in days. I just want water.” The Lord spoke to my heart in that very moment, and I instinctively knew that I was God’s arms and legs carrying that ice cold water to a thirsty man that had been abandoned by his family & the world. I still tear up thinking about it…..
There comes a time when u hear a siting call when the world must come together as one becoz love is careing love is truth love is something which the doctor cant cure and it hard for u to love someone when the person u love after all when u love someone put the person name in a circle but not in ur heart becz love can break heart and make sure u find someone who will never break ur heart dream,hope and love makes love beautifu love is like a war easy to start difficult to end impossible to forget dont find love let love find u
Dang it Bi… you made me cry again.
Love this. So real.
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