There He is.

"Jesus stands at the door and knocks, in complete reality. He asks you for help in the form of a beggar, in the form of a ruined human being in torn clothing. He confronts you in every person that you meet. Christ walks on the earth as your neighbor as long as there are people. He lives in the form of the person in our midst. Will you keep the door locked or open it to him?" – Deitrich Bonhoeffer

I wrote a short time back about helping others. In that entry I asked if you looked for ways to help all the time. Do you just wait for the next advertised tragedy to strike? Do you think it is better to teach them how to do or do it for them?

Reading the above quote it almost makes me rethink or at least want to clarify and direct the thinking in a new way.  The scripture used to start the above quote is Matthew 25:34, “For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in.” I know it is easy to ignore or “forget” about the tragedy that happens around the world, whether tidal waves, earthquakes, wars, famine. It is a little harder to forget about the tragedy happening next door, Hurricanes, floods, fires. What about those you see on the street corner on your way to church? The person that is sitting outside the grocery store and begging for food? I realize that some of those people are scamming you or trying to get support a drug or alcohol habit. But aren’t there ways to avoid giving them cash. Is it really that hard to give them some actual food? Is it hard to actually hand someone a blanket, give them a ride to the shelter, and smile at them? I think it is really easy to focus on the big things, the earthquake victims in the Far East, the child being sold into sex slavery in Asia, the homeless and starving in Africa. But what about the not so sensationalized here in your neighborhood or school, your street?

Just like starting your walk with Jesus as your personal savior, it is the little steps that shape the journey. If you can’t, won’t or just don’t see the “Jesus” right around you how can you help others else where.

I heard someone describe a missionary outpost as a pebble thrown into a body of water. The ripples spread out and affect everything it touches. Well, where do you think the pebble comes from? It comes from here, from you. You need to be what is thrown out in to the water, you need to make the ripples, and you need to affect everything you touch.

Do you try to help the local community? Do you feel that it is often overlooked and that all the focus is spent on the latest big tragedy? Tell me what you think.