Message #44287

[Psalm 51:17]

As some here know, I spent nearly 3 years "homeless" on the streets of the Hawaiian islands, mostly in Waikiki, and the Puna District of the Big Island. During my time there, there was a constant battle between the homeless and authorities and business, especially the cart vendors at the "International Market Place". Admittedly, some homeless make it bad for all with their actions, but my experience found those like society in general, were the extreme exception. Most homeless do what they can to stay out of the way of society. The homeless people who are thieves and robbers, drunks, and drug addicts, they aren't a problem because of being homeless, it's a problem they are drunks and robbers.

Society wants to treat the homeless like they have some disease, so they push them aside and try to not deal with them. They toss some cash at a non-profit and tell them to deal with it, then pat themselves on the back for the "good deed" they think they did. Saw it all the time in my day.

In Hawaii, at least when I was there, the city and police weren't rabid about getting the homeless out of the tourist areas, but the effort was definitely made. Police seemed to be easy to moderate towards the homeless from what I saw, even first hand. They didn't hassle them too much, which me and the brethren there made sure we told who we could we really appreciated their effort to not be the bad guys. If a person made an effort to not be a problem, the police basically left you alone. Even at night, several of us would sleep in the Waikiki "Rose Garden", a small public park, but would be up and gone by sun up, so the police didn't mess with us, and let us sleep there. But we knew also that meant the police knew exactly where we were each night, so it was a trade off of sorts, as everybody eventually knew we were there and how to find us. It boils down to how you deal with others, if your really loving your neighbor.

Thank you for sharing this here - also add Churchiantiy to this list of those that pat themselves on the back for doing "good deeds". With the possible exception of their so-called "soup kitchens", I don't ever recall them doing anything for the homeless. Part of the reason is b/c they bought into this Reagan-Republicanism deception(where they have this attitude that if you want to have a good living, you have to work hard in your career. And then this whole consumerism economy nonsense). And then the other part being that they are more concerned with their expensive buildings and "ministries".

I don't recall Jesus ever ignoring the homeless et al when he did his 3.5 year ministry on earth.

Luke 10:30  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
Luk 10:31  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
Luk 10:32  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
Luk 10:33  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
Luk 10:34  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Luk 10:35  And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Luk 10:36  Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
Luk 10:37  And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.