Under the Bridge

Under the bridge. You know the one. Where "the homeless people live."

A group of young adults. Some might have homes. Others not. Addicts. The mentally ill. Teenagers without a safe place to call home. People. People with names, hearts and souls. People Christ died for. People we are called to love.

The smell of pot. The fact that the students knew the smell saddened me.

Alcohol in Orange Juice containers. "It is what we do to keep warm."

Swearing. Arguing. Noise.

Fear. Is this safe? Fear. Lord keep us safe.

Softness... their tough exterior shed at the random display of love and kindness. You could see the softness literally take over their entire beings.

Genuine appreciation. "You are angels in disguise."

Warmth. Boots. Tuques. Food. Jackets. Warmth. Love. Compassion.

Lives changed. Theirs. Ours. Mine.

Called

Could it be Lord? Are you calling me? Today the reality of lost souls struck me like it never has before. Your ministry involves other believers. Your mission involves ensuring non believers hear the good news. I am not sure where my mission field is. Perhaps He is calling me to a land far away. Perhaps He is opening my eyes to a mission field right here at home. Regardless, I am sensing His call. It frightens me. It excites me. I have sense this before. I brushed it off. Time passed and the urgency faded. But this time He has my attention.

'Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face -- whose mercy you have professed to obey -- and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world. --William Booth