In the last 3 weeks my eyes have opened up to a new wave of homelessness in our city

‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:40

Have we become such cold and heartless creatures that we are blinded by the suffering of so many in our world? Have we fallen into the trap that believes that homeless people are only trying to manipulate us? I know one person who made a comment that a person uses a cane is only doing so to get benefits.

In the last 3 weeks in different parts of the city, my eyes were opened to the homeless problem. In one affluent northwestern suburb sat a family of 4 kids as one parent took turns holding a sign that said, 'please help'. In this one situation, the dad was playing with his children on the blanket beneath a shade tree. Where they sat you could see Nordstrom Rack and across the street the AMC movie theaters.

In another part of the city, I saw another homeless family. Like the first one, this family was also disheveled. The 3 kids in this situation were all playing amongst themselves with their dad as mom held a sign, 'please help-we're homeless.' My heart broke.

In still another part of the city, I saw yet another family sitting under a shade tree. As their kids played together each of their parents took turns holding a sign, 'please help- we're homeless'.

I remember years ago, Mary Jo Copeland tried to get various suburbs to approve her plans to build a homeless shelter. One by one each of these cities voted her down when overwhelmingly people said, 'not in my city.' Fortunately, she was persistent until the City of Minneapolis gave approval to what is known as 'Mary Jo's Place'.https://sharingandcaringhands.org/marys-place. This is a mere drop in the bucket until the problem of sustainable and affordable housing is addressed.

Unfortunately, many suburban cities aren't addressing this problem. Many would rather utter 'not in my city' with hopes the problem would go away.

Not everyone is living the American dream. Not everyone is receiving generous inheritances from their parents or grandparents. We seem to have this false sense of belief that if you can be successful then why can't they? We forget to see the stories behind their suffering. Stories like when disability forces them out of a job or being so overcome by trauma that they have a hard time maintaining employment. We forget to listen to their story.

I'm reminded of these words from Jesus in Matthew 25:36-40:

36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’

One of those cities that voted down Mary Jo's idea of building a homeless shelter later approved to allow an NFL team to relocate their training headquarters.http://www.startribune.com/mary-jo-copeland-selling-site-once-planned-for-orphanage/316060741/

The reality is that unless we address the problem of sustainable and affordable housing the problem of homelessness will only grow.

This past week we said goodbye to a marvelous singer-Aretha Franklin

31 For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:31-32

This past week, we lost a music legend when Aretha Franklin died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. The song, I'll say a little prayer for you, speaks of every woman's heart desire for the men in their lives.  

Lately, we have been bombarded with bad examples of men as seen through the eyes of the 'me-too' movement and our political figures who seem to be blinded by the reality that their actions have harmed women. 

When women fall in love, they bond to the man. When they marry, two hearts become one.  The leaders of this country, are poor examples we men should follow when it comes to encouraging the woman in our lives. Some married men I know see no reason to not to enjoy a meal with a female colleague alone in the absence of their wife. I disagree with this practice and sure enough, I've watched married men walk away from their marriage vows- leaving bewildered children and wives to needlessly suffer.  Many who have been betrayed become like ships without a rudder trying to navigate through dangerous seas.   From year one of our marriage, I made sure to never be alone with another woman unless my wife was with me. I remember when my wife and I wrote our marriage vows. I made sure to include the phrase 'for better or for worse' in my vow to Linda. 

At the time I wrote this vow, it was becoming increasingly popular to leave that sentence out- in fact, prenuptial agreements were all the rage and a profit-making opportunity for attorneys who were successful  making couples insecure and keep that marriage door slightly ajar 'just in case'- as though couples were in it for the short term until someone better comes along. But I knew that for better or for worse I was going to love my wife through whatever fierce storms came our way.   I was in it for the long haul and so was my wife! Not even the death of a child, sickness, or disability could tear us apart!  

Lyrics: I say a little prayer for you.

Before I put on my makeup

I say a little prayer for you

While combing my hair now,

And wondering what dress to wear now,I say a little prayer for you 

Forever, and ever, you'll stay in my heart and I will love you 

Forever, and ever, we never will partTo live without you

Oh, how I love youTogether, forever, that's how it must be

Would only mean heartbreak for me.

I run for the bus, dear, While riding I think of us, dear,

I say a little prayer for you.

And all through my coffee break-time,

At work I just take time I say a little prayer for you. and I will love you

Forever, and ever, you'll stay in my heart

Oh, how I'll love youForever, and ever we never will part together, forever, that's how it must be, say a little prayer for you

To live without you would only mean heartbreak for me.

TI say a little prayer for you My darling believe me, ( believe me)

For me, there is no one but you!

Please love me too (answer his pray)And I'm in love with you 

(answer his prayer)

Answer my prayer now babe (answer his prayer)

Forever, and ever, you'll stay in my heart forever, and ever we never will part and I will love you

Oh, how I'll love you would only mean heartbreak for me 

(oooooooooh)Together, forever, t

that's how it must be to live without you

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

Every couple of years I sit as an election judge to help make sure our election day process is fair and impartial. Though the days are long and at times tedious and boring, I continue performing this function because I believe in the democratic process that makes our great nation one of the greatest nations to live in.


I must admit though that there are some who lose that hope, but what I saw last night were people who were excited about exercising their right to vote. I saw the mom's accompanying their 18-year-old adult children and witnessing their first time voting experiences and their beaming smiles that they did it. I watched one new voter doing a victory fist in the air the moment the vote counting machine successfully captured their ballot. I watched 'new American's casting their vote and the smiles as they witnessed their vote being counted. I could not help picturing them living in their former countries where groups of dangerous militias kept them from voting.


Like in all the other years, I think we place a false hope in the candidates we elect. We think they're infallible and worse, we place them on a pedestal as though they are a god. Yet, if we do that we resign ourselves to a personal calamity when we learned their candidates personal and professional failing that they are not perfect, nor are they there to assure your own personal happiness.


But our God in heaven, the one who sent his son, Jesus, to die for you, is the one who wants to at the center of your being. 2 Corinthians 4:16 is a reminder that while outwardly we're wasting away ( aging process, effects of cancer, and other diseases) our inward being is being renewed day by day.


This is a poetic reminder that God gives us a reason to live in this world regardless of what challenges we might be facing.


Our politicians are not perfect which means after they are elected we need to consider writing to them about the issues we care about. Politicians, I've learned are especially drawn to the letters that are written from the heart- some that flow out of the personal tragedies of their lives- another reminder that God will not waste your pain.