Blessed

blessed
Originally uploaded by 1daymore.

Matthew 5:1-12

Sunday morning in Sunday School we've been covering the topic of giving. Last Sunday I related one of my many thousands of missed opportunities to share a little something when I didn't buy a gentleman's meal at Subway.

Perhaps God was seeing if I learned anything on Sunday, because Monday morning I had an opportunity present itself first thing. I drove into the agency and parked in the local parking garage. Lately, they have had a certain set of access doors closed, and I haven't been able to get a close spot near the stairs. So, I had a thought that this day I would just park on the roof to be next to the stairs. No one ever parks on the roof.

I pulled in, got out of the van, opened the access doors to the stairwell and was shocked to see a sleeping body laying next to the stairs. I couldn't see anything but a big lump in a sleeping bag with a couple of items sitting next to it. On my way walking past, I noticed that one of the items was an open Bible. Heading down the stairs, I thought, "Wait a minute. I only have a couple of bucks in my wallet. But this person, whomever they are, needs it more than I do." So I quietly snuck back up the stairs and laid the bills on the open Bible.

The end of the day came and I walked back up the stairs. It was raining. The person was no longer there. (I didn't expect that he/she would be.) When I got to my car, still the only one on the roof, I noticed a small strip of paper sticking out of my driver's side door window. This is the note, pictured.

I only gave about the equivalent of a cup of water to a brother in need. He blessed me with an acknowlegement...and a new perspective. When we see the homeless, we often place ourselves above them in our minds. We have social status and jobs, cars and money. But in this moment I saw the treasure we both have in God's Word. I hurt for my brother who lives on the street. But it looks like he knows Jesus, and that makes him the son of a King.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven."