So I recently began my internship at Plan C Group, so I find myself driving to Koreatown in LA a few times a week.
I usually park on the street and the last few times I've been there there was a homeless fellow always near where I parked.
Today I packed lunch and I also didn't really have anyone to eat lunch with so I decided I would share a meal with him if I could find him.Sure enough, I found him in his usual spot and I went over to a liquor store and bought two Arizona Iced Teas - one for me and one for him. I felt he might not want to talk or spend any time with me, so at the very least I wanted to give him a drink and leave.
When I approached him, I got rejected. I don't know if he was praying or what, but he had his head down and his hands were together. But I really wasn't sure. When I tried to talk to him, he looked up at me and said "I'm busy". I tried to talk to him a couple more times, and each time, he said the same thing.
I ended up eating lunch by myself. It was freaking delicious. My sister is the best. She made me the best tuna sandwich I have ever eaten in my life. And I hate tuna sandwiches.
Even though they denied my charity, (I later got rejected again by another homeless man. WHAT IS WITH THESE HOMELESS PEOPLE AND NOT WANTING FREE FOOD) God gave me an insightful word of wisdom on homeless people and their brokenness.
I got the sense that I've been overlooking that fact that many of these homeless people have a sense of shame, self-hatred, and zero self-esteem. Many are angry and frustrated with life with good reason. I can imagine that I might make them feel like they're being pitied, even though my intentions are purely loving and good.
I'm hoping that this wisdom will help me to pray better for them and also to love them with that insight and understanding.
I'm also going to keep trying to love on this particular homeless man, as I will probably see him often in the future.
Challenge: If you're denied or rejected while trying to show love to someone, take it as an opportunity to stretch your empathy and understanding for that person. It's easy to respond with, "Wow that person is totally messed up! I was trying to do a good thing for them! Screw them!" when you faced the bitter taste of rejection. But love them by seeking to understand their heart and their actions and pray for them instead. They can't make you stop praying for them!
Bible Verse of the Day: "The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern." Proverbs 29:7
favorite post!
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