We’ve all had those times where we find ourselves in an uncomfortable situation — like somebody next to us in line at the store with multiple hair colorings. Or maybe it’s body piercings, huge holes in their ears with plugs, tattoos, nose rings or sparse, revealing clothing…

After church this past Sunday, the cashier at the restaurant had a huge safety pin from the top to the bottom of his ear. That had to hurt, didn’t it? For some reason, these things don’t really bother me. After 40-plus years of working with those with life-controlling addictions, I’ve pretty much seen it all. I’m grateful for God’s humbling early in my Christian walk to not think I was better than anyone else because of my appearance. My Heavenly Father has helped me to see people through His eyes, not mine.

Recently, my wife showed me a post on Facebook that really touched her heart during her devotion time. It goes like this:

“YOU CAN SIT WITH ME!!!”

You got hammered at the bar on Saturday but came to church on Sunday…You can sit with me. You’re right where you need to be.

You’re a drug addict but came to church on Sunday…You can sit with me. You’re right where you need to be.

You’re divorced, and the last church you attended condemned you for it…. You can sit with me. You’re right where you need to be.

You’ve had an abortion and it’s slowly eating away at your heart, but you came to church on Sunday….. You can sit with me. You’re right where you need to be.

You’ve been unfaithful to your spouse but came to church on Sunday…You can sit with me. You’re right where you need to be.

Here’s the thing, people don’t come to church on Sunday for you to sit in the pew and quietly judge them because you feel you’re somehow better than them. People come to church because in their deepest, darkest, most painful moments, they heard about a man named Jesus who could save their soul and they’d like to know Him.

Mark 2:17…On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It’s not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have come not to call the righteous….

I don’t know about you, but this brought me to tears. I currently live less than half a mile from our prison. Men and women are released when their time is up, whether it’s 2:00 in the morning or 8:00 at night. We’ve learned to be extremely careful coming home at night because they may be walking on the narrow street with no sidewalks.

The homeless whom our last mayor supposedly took care of (yeah … not really) are everywhere. Many are running a con game, but there are some who really are homeless through no fault of their own. Some are mentally ill, some are addicted, and some just don’t want to follow any rules. How do you help when it’s hard to determine the real need vs. the perceived need?

I wish there was an easy answer. There’s not. That’s why it’s critical we learn how to pray and ask for discernment when we are being called upon to help someone in need. My wife and I don’t give to every person holding a cardboard sign asking for money. But there are those times when you hear clearly the voice of the Holy Spirit saying, "Give to this one!”

My part is to be willing to let Him use me to touch someone with His love and compassion.

Something to pray about!
Semper Fidelis