I hate to admit this but I have never served the homeless a meal so I didn't really know what to expect. I just figured I would stand behind a table and spoon some sort of side dish on styrofoam plates as folks were walking by. Then I imagined myself in a back room somewhere washing dishes. Praise the Lord oh my soul this was NOT my experience tonight. Cherith Brook is an old house. People live there. They commit to serving the homeless. Their whole purpose is regularly feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, visiting the prisoner and the sick in the name of Jesus. These people open the doors of THEIR HOME. The kitchen and living area is full of tables and chairs ~ I would say enough for about 50 people. Each table with a table cloth, cloth napkins, silverware, cups and pitchers of water. I was already impressed. At 5:00 the doors were opened and in came the homeless. Coffee was avaliable and appetizers were set on the tables (chips and guacamole dip). Everyone, homeless and those serving, sat around talking and finished preparing dinner. Think of when your family gets together for a birthday or Thanksgiving, that is what it was like. At 6:00 we all stood and held hands and shared our joys of the week and prayer requests followed by prayer. Then about 3-4 of us served dinner (ON REAL PLATES) while the rest of us were served right alongside the homeless. I got to sit all by myself at a table with about 6 homeless men and share a meal with them. I was WAY out of my comfort zone but I was thanking God for every second of it. These are real people, people. Some had 'normal' lives before. They have families and children and hopes and needs. My heart just broke into a million pieces. One guy, we will call him R, was a hoot. He looked like Eddie Murphy and has been mistaken for him several times. I just loved getting to know who some of these people were. After dinner was over EVERYONE helped clean up. Some were washing dishes, folding up the tables and chairs, sweeping the floor. Off in a little den someone was playing guitar and people were singing. It was fellowship. And I was humbled. I am so grateful for the opportunity.
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 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, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:31-40
Beautiful...
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