What's Goin On?

"Mother, Mother, everybody thinks we're wrong. Oh, but who are they to judge us? Simply because our hair is long. Oh, you know we've got to find a way, to bring some understanding here today. Oh Picket lines and picket signs, don't punish me with brutality. Talk to me, so you can see; What's going on? Tell me what's going on?" -Marvin Gaye

If you were to drive by the Mission (in the evening) these days, you will find 10-15 of our guests (men and women) camped out in the front of our building; sleeping on flattened cardboard boxes, sleeping bags or right on the parking lot.
I wonder what feelings this invokes. Shock, anger, sadness, pity, shame?

For myself, all of these emotions rise to the surface. It makes me wonder what kind of society/community would allow this to happen? Sure this reality may exist in every town, every back-alley across this nation and you could argue that because we live in small(er) town, it sure makes the situation seem more magnified. I'm ashamed to admit that my first thought was about business. 'How is this going to affect our thrift store, having this right on our doorstep?'

Immediately, I felt convicted. I wondered aloud, 'Who are we in the business of serving here?'
Our guests, who as of last week have no evening shelter -are now forced to sleep outdoors.
Since then, they've been pushed out of every park, business fronts, even the Shelter has hired private security to keep them away. Imagine if you can for a moment, how it would feel to be homeless, to not have the luxury nor security of having a roof over your head at night. And at every moment, you think you've found a safe, quiet place to rest your head and aching body -you're awoken by someone that is a) trying to rob you b) trying to move you on -'you're not allowed to be here' or c) mean you harm

I don't mean to be critical of those who ran the Shelter. God knows that we need to support one another in the work that we do. Their reasons for closing their doors are seemingly understandable. Under staffed, under-funded... it sure makes it difficult to operate under those circumstances. Again though, you have to wonder how this was allowed to happen, how they could close their doors, without a proper back up in place? A 'Plan B,' a second option -anything? Why they couldn't have stayed open for a little bit longer, till a new shelter space was found?

When will this community rise up above the mentality of 'not in my back yard' and say enough is enough? Who will stand up and be a voice for the voiceless, a defender of the poor and needy? Too many it seems believe that it's up to the few -the well-meaning 'do-gooders' that ultimately come through in the end (and they will). Jesus has said that this is a responsibility that we all share. We all need to be a part of the solution and not turn our eyes away from a problem that will only get worse if we let it. The time has come to stand for what we believe in.