God, Teach Us to Care

On Tuesdays I usually counsel at the Ruby Snider Ministry Center.  Ruby Snider is a food and clothing pantry available to those in need within our county.  Clients are able to come in every 4 months for assistance and prior to leaving with clothes and food, each client is required to meet with a counselor where he/she presents the Gospel and prays with the individual. 

I’ve had a bit of a Summer cold all week and to be honest, the last thing I wanted to do was go serve at the Center today.  As you can imagine, we encounter folks from all walks of life in the counseling room.  Some have truly come into desperate, crisis-type situations, while others just know how to “milk the system” and live off of the government.  There are many times that I walk clients through the process and complete the forms all while knowing that I’m being manipulated and lied to. 

The easy response is to become frustrated and cynical, but then, right when you’re on the verge of wanting to give up on humanity, you meet someone completely broken and in need of not just food and clothes, but in need of true Hope. 

One of my first clients this morning was a tall, rough looking man in his mid-thirties.  He was new to the Center, so I needed to see his I.D…..he mumbled as he pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket.  His only form of identification was a “felon” I.D., which pretty much consists a photo printed on paper that includes his name, date of birth, and when he was released from jail. 

Clearly embarrassed by the piece of paper now in my hand, he apologized and with tears in his eyes asked if I would feel more comfortable if he met with a man instead.  This man was clearly hurting and the last thing I wanted to do was make him feel more ostracized…he didn’t make me feel uncomfortable or in danger; he made me feel sad. His past mistakes were still looming over him, and his future didn’t seem all that promising either.

This morning Psalm 72 was included in my Bible reading plan.  You’ll never guess what is talked about in Psalm 72: the needy, the poor, he who has no helper, the weak, and the oppressed.

If we know anything about the character of God, we know that he cares for those that are destitute; for the people most easily subjected to oppression and violence.  God not only cares, but he redeems…let that sink in.  Do we care for the “lowly” like the Lord does?