May 27, 2007
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Let them drink.
We're in the Bay for the next few days, and I'm getting a chance to show Sam around where I used to live in that special season in my life (which I always reflect back upon with a smile). We're staying with our good friends up here (Colleen & Bernard). They brought us around the City tonight and gave us a mini-tour/explanation of the TL. TL, that's short for Tenderloin. It's the more seedy part of the city, where the poor, the immigrant, the drugdealers, the prostitutes hang out. C&B used to spend a lot of time there reaching out to these marginalized, back in the day. I had passed through there before, but it was different this time. Seeing all these things this time and connecting them to all the thoughts I have had in the last year was different - it was different seeing as opposed to just hearing or reading about them. One response is, "Yuck! Get away!" and "Danger! Get me away!" But those are the thoughts and feelings I want to fight back. I don't want that to be my response. Rather, I want it to be the opposite. Love. Compassion. Get me near them.
The other day I came across this passage in the Bible, "Give beer to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves...defend the rights of the poor and needy." (Prov 31:6-9) I almost choked on the words as I was reading them aloud to Sam. It's been awhile since Scripture has moved me to tears, but I was so struck by the amount of despair that is revealed through these words. There are people who are in so much anguish and destitution that Wisdom would actually say, "Let them drink in order to forget." Reality check. In reality, I have no idea what that experience is like. But it's not only that. God's call for us as believers is not to just leave them in their drunkeness. No! He also says that we must speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Defend them. That's the call. What's our answer?
Comments (4)
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is heaven. Poverty, drunkeness, drugs, addictions, things so common here, but so many awesome churches mobilizing to help fight
laws, housing, service, education rehabilitation, and prayer!!
good post
good post
yeah...only 2 full days. not much time at all, considering that the next time i'll be back in SD will probably be next june. crazy. do i get to see you at some point?
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