Because People Matter

It's not hard to find something good to write about today. My kids and some of their friends went to Indianapolis tonight to eat pizza with some of the homeless there. They go every Friday night, buy a bunch of pizzas, usually take some other stuff along (coats, milk, etc.), and basically just hang out.

I know there are some people who think this is a waste. I've heard the comments: "These people are choosing to live this way." "They're just looking for a handout. Why don't they work for a living like everyone else." "You're wasting your money." And on and on and on. The basic idea being that homeless people are worthless.

I've never actually asked Carrie or Isaac, or Graham or Caleb, why they do what they do (or even Scott and the gang from our church who look after the homeless of Fort Wayne)... but I think I have a pretty good idea. It's because people matter. People have value simply because... THEY'RE PEOPLE.

See, a good percentage of the world will try to tell you that people only have value if they look a certain way; or if they can DO certain things. You know, they treat people as commodities... as "things to use." And the problem with thinking like this is that you start to look at people who aren't good enough looking, or people who can't work, or people who have handicaps as being somewhat "lesser than." They appear to have less value. And if THEY have less value, then what about people who are still in the womb, or people who are in nursing homes and mental institutions??? Pretty soon someone will suggest that not only do they not have value, but that they are a strain on society and are expendable. And this is wrong.

We are creations of God. We are human beings - all of us. And I think a large part of why my kids go eat pizza with homeless people is simply to let them know that THEY MATTER. To let them know that SOMEONE thinks they have value as people.

We are not valuable because of what we can do, or because of how we look, or what we can contribute... We are valuable because of WHO'S WE ARE. We were created in His image. God formed mankind and said, "it is good." We are valuable because He says we are, not because of what we can do or earn, but simply because we ARE. You mattered before you were born; you matter when you're sick; you matter when you're retired, when your disabled, when you can and cannot do what others say you should or should not do. YOU MATTER NO MATTER WHAT... because you're a person.

So... perhaps this will help us all look at people differently. Like Whisky said a few days ago - it took him awhile after moving to a small town to learn to say "hi" to people again. We don't have to live in small towns to treat people with a little more dignity and respect. If you're like me, we have plenty of opportunities every day. Let's try it.

Peace, everyone. God is good.