The Touch of the Masters Hand

“Where do you stand with the homeless?” That question was posed to me 13 years ago? I didn’t stand anywhere because I had ignored the whole problem. The homeless weren’t a problem to me; I didn’t live near their world; and maybe I didn’t really care. The problem of homelessness is now front page news and we can make a difference…you and me.

Invited to write resumes by then Congregations for the Homeless Executive Director, Steve Roberts, I tentatively accepted to enter a new, formerly “invisible,” world. What I discovered were men living in an environment surrounded by chaos related to relationships, ex-wives, the court, addiction, emotional illness, injury, debt and self-loathing. It didn’t takelong to know that working with these men was frustrating. Are we making a difference? Is it worth the time when progress is slow? How do I handle my emotions when a man I have been working with, who has been sober for 8 months, relapses to his meth addiction?

But then some light appeared at the end of the tunnel.  These men are survivors, many quite articulate, have higher than average intelligence (some bad decision making a given) and who have a desperate need to verbalize their situation. Over time I came to understand that men needed to be loved, not judged, through their emotions, their bad decisions and relapses. I also learned there is a time and place to speak some hard truth regarding the hard work of change, but only after establishing a relationship.  I find the men open to dialogue, prayer, and hearing words of wisdom.

A recent situation: High on drugs and marijuana, he was an easy person to ignore in the shelter. Mouthy, cocky and intoxicated he was a real piece of work. After he had a medical emergency I forced myself to spend time with him. In all honesty, I asked the question, “Is he worth the time?” After one meeting I saw a side to him that was genuine–some real hurt in his history and a longing for a new life. We continue to meet. He is in our voluntary bible study.   Hard to know where this dialogue will go but I am praying for a changed life. What is the value of a changed life? I see hope for these men as outlined in the poem, The Touch of the Masters Hand

Might you be willing to sit with a man and listen—perhaps exchange life stories? There is no need to be a counselor, or mentor, but just a listener. This is how these men know you care and lives begin to change:

• Expressing that you care and expect nothing in return
• Just being there: taking time from your life to spend with a man in the shelter
• Sharing some of your wisdom along the way in a non-judgmental, preachy manner

Change will come one man at a time.   Government will never solve the problem. I would love to talk to you about how to be a catalyst for changing one life @ [email protected].