When you leave Helen, GA, you have to make a sharp turn between two beautiful cow pastures. To the south of the intersection there is a historic mound noting Cherokee History. As we slowed to make the turn, we could see some parked cars and folks walking around the intersection. Then I noticed the family, sitting along the side of the road with a cardboard sign which read "Family with three children needs help." Unsure what to do, or even what was reasonable to think I could do, I drove on toward Clemson.
This morning I read from James 2. Martin Luther's critique of James too often becomes an excuse for ignoring James' wise words and his counsel on rightly following Jesus. In this second chapter James asks whether we ignore the person in shabby clothes and give preference to the one dressed in fine clothing.
How do we respond, to God's children who are in need? We reflect the love of Jesus by welcoming others into our LCM group and making sure they know they belong. How do we reach out with Christ's love to the family sitting along the side of the road, asking for help?
It isn't always easy to "help." And what could we do to reverse a series of setbacks that bring someone to the point of homelessness and hunger? We don't know the full extent of that particular family's situation - but we do know there are many who are hungry and homeless.
I don't know.
But I do know that Jesus told me to give to the poor and to attend to their needs.
So I will search for ways and opportunities to do what I can, to do what I must, in order to thank God for all the good gifts I have received by sharing those gifts and those abilities with those whom God places in my path.
It was a glorious day yesterday. And seeing that family along the side of the road added to the significance of the day - reminding us that we weren't a bunch of college kids on a weekend outing, we were children of God, traveling together and striving to understand what it means to be children of God.
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