The weather app stated that it was 18 degrees outside on that Monday morning of the new year. Yet, in my house, the temperature was a cozy 68 degrees. I was comfortably nestled onto the couch with my fur-babies and blankets. There were blankets under me, around me, and on top of me – not because it was cold but because I love soft blankets. My fluffy dog, Tucker, was curled up on one side of me, and my toy poodle, Bella, rested her head on the laptop in front of me. In addition to my central heat, I had a cute little electric heater that mimicked the soft glow of a fireplace. Yet as I sat there, my thoughts turned back to the week after Christmas and to the lady in the tent. I was reminded that the warmth that surrounded me on that day wasn’t the same for everyone. For the lady in the tent, blankets are a necessity rather than a luxury.
Let’s go back. The dirt road was muddy with ruts too numerous to miss. We were following the Cornerstone Transition Home van in front of us that was pulling a trailer filled with boxes. With each unit of apartments, the van would stop, and our ladies would climb out of the vehicle. Each one would grab boxes of chips we had recently received in a donation and continue knocking on each door on the west side of the complex. “Hello! Would you like a box of chips?” Then we turned the corner and saw something that changed us. We saw someone. Over to our right, there was a make-shift tent just big enough for someone to curl up inside. The living quarters were on the outside of the unstable structure and consisted of one rocking chair and a small counter. I voiced, “Wow! Someone lives there?!”
Just then, the lady stepped out of her tent and without hesitation, one of our residents jumped out and handed her a box. At that moment, my heart grew warm and heavy at the same time. Our girls get it. They know how to see people. They don’t just glance and keep going like I so often do. These ladies serve without question and without judgment.
When I got back home that day, I fixed my cup of pumpkin spice cappuccino with Cool Whip swirled on top and sat down at my desk to continue my reading in Luke. Then it happened. A familiar verse jumped right off the page and entered my heart. It was Luke 7:28. I realized on that day that the tent lady was greater than John the Baptist. Then I flipped back over to verses that God continually brings to my mind in Matthew chapter 25. This time, I focused on verse 45.
In that moment, I understood the reality of what Jesus meant. The tent lady is greater than John the Baptist. Even worse, when I glanced at the lady and drove right by, I really overlooked Jesus. I didn’t stop the vehicle and greet Him. I didn’t offer Him the blanket in my backseat or the water in my cup holder.
Oh, Lord, help me to stop tossing a quick look at You before turning my head away. Help me to really notice You. Help me to slow down long enough to at least ask Your name. Help me to be prepared with supplies on hand so that I can give You some water, a bite to eat, or a blanket or something - anything rather than nothing. Lord, all it takes is a quick Google search to discover verses upon verses where you command me to serve those in poverty. It’s obvious that “the poor '' are so important to You! If they are important to You, then shouldn’t these people living in substandard conditions be important to me, as well? Why do I treat these verses as if they are suggestions?
Could it be that when God asks us to serve the poor and we actually follow through with His request that we put the gospel on display? Isn’t that what He did for me, for us? In our poverty, He reached out and lifted us up. He called us by name. We were hopeless and could do nothing in our pit of sin, yet He had compassion. He gave us more than bread, water, and a blanket. He gave us Himself.
My dear friend…
Bethany lives in Newport, Arkansas, with her husband, Dwight, of 25 years. They have two children and three grandsons. Bethany is the Executive Director of Cornerstone Transition Home, which serves women who are released from prison to transition into society. She also serves as a Religious Certified Assistant at McPherson prison. She loves taking care of her farm animals and home organization projects. Her favorite consumption is Diet Coke and chocolate cake.
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