Unnoticed
- Gary Fritsch
- Mar 19
- 2 min read
It's just too easy. In the midst of our very busy lives, hustling to meet a schedule, or pick up a child from here or there, even heading to care for a parent, it is so easy to ignore a poor person or, if you live in the suburbs forget that they exist.
This is the sin of the rich man. He becomes desensitized to the poor man that he probably has to walk around to get in and out of his lavish home. It happens to us too. It is just too easy. We often start with some level of skepticism that says: if I just give them money, it will likely enable a bad habit - you know - the kind of stuff that gets them into these spots in the first place. I've had that thought. But that thought doesn't work for two reasons. While many homeless people use alcohol and drugs, this is not the primary cause for their homelessness in most cases. There is a 50% chance that they just need a meal, money for shelter or someone to show any amount of concern for them. The second reason is this: Even if we give to them and it enables a bad habit, we have still shown them love and concern. We aren't compounding their bad habit with our avarice. If the rich man had given to Lazarus, regardless of what Lazarus did with it, he likely would have saved his soul. (the parable seems to imply, somewhat ridiculously that this was the man's only fault).
For many of us who have escaped to the 'burbs' we might feel as though we have ducked this responsibility entirely because we are not faced, on a regular basis, with the homeless in our well-manicured neighborhoods. Nice try. It's not like we actually believe that there are no poor people or homeless people, we just don't have to deal with them every day. Our knowledge of them still impels us to be generous.
Almsgiving during Lent is meant to be an awakening - an opening of our eyes to the reality of poverty, whether we step around it each day, or if we have built a life that steps around it all the time. Take some time to think about the opportunities you have to serve the poor. You heard me. I didn't say donate or give money to (although I'll get to that) - SERVE them. This is what Jesus calls us to do.
If you do have the opportunity to walk by or drive by the homeless, you can think intentionally about this as well. Buy some grocery store, or McDonalds gift cards and keep them in your car, or on your person. When you encounter someone in need, share one of these. Perhaps it is more likely to be used for its intended purpose. Most importantly, offer to pray for them, ask their name, treat them with respect and dignity. Think about how you might do this.
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