There are those times when you first see it.  It's a little unsettling to you, saddens you, makes you glad that it doesn't happen where you're from.  The first time I remember seeing homeless people was in Memphis.  To have grown up the way I did, always having a nice home, you struggle to understand it.  I guess honestly I've always known it.  But where I came from, we just handled it differently.  In rural Christian Arkansas, it was considered a stain on the entire community to allow someone to remain in need (and there always was); therefore, the community stepped up.  Food, shelter, whatever the need, someone always provided.  It was just the right thing to do.  And this in a time when there was no social media to post pictures and brag about it.  Just country people stepping up and filling the need.

In the late 1990s I was in Houston, Texas, with some friends and co-workers I had known for many years.  One of these co-workers had a rather odd sense of humor, and lived with his ex-wife.  While traveling through a part of Houston that even the locals warned visitors about, we saw some homeless people.  This "friend" said, "Hey! Look at those urban outdoorsmen!"  I looked at him and said, "Don't you live with your ex-wife?"  "Yes," he said.  "What's that got to do with this?"  I replied, "Well, you're one smart remark away from being homeless yourself!"  He didn't appreciate the comeback, but homelessness isn't funny.  There were small children in that "camp."

In John 15:12, Jesus' words read, "This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you."  So why is it that there seems to be a growing "class" divide in our nation?  I firmly believe that if one is able to work, one should.  We've taught our children that principle and take a very conservative line about laziness.  But there is nothing conservative about being able to help those who are in need and being callous toward them instead.  Love is not proud or haughty.

As we have gone through several years of high unemployment, there is a noticeable uneasiness that you see on people's faces.  A lack of confidence in the future will do that.  Sure, there are many who will claim that if you'll just vote for them they can wave their magic wand and fix it all.  In any great nation, strong,  competent leadership is a necessity.  But for far too many who have great need, it's just another cold night by a barrel fire.  And it's getting worse.  In just this last year, I've seen more homeless people than at any time in my forty-two years.  We know people who are at risk of losing their homes.  These are difficult times.  We might not be able to wait on competent leadership.  Maybe God is calling on His church to fix this one ourselves.  Find a need today and fill it.