Our “act of kindness,” taking a meal to some of the homeless in Atlanta gathered at Northwoods Baptist Church was an incredible experience of humility, grace and service. Our children had a good time as well. We joined the effort at the invitation of Karol Vellines, the children’s minister at Peachtree Baptist Church. As the adults gathered in the kitchen of Peachtree Baptist Church to carve the smoked Turkey’s and make the casseroles, the children clumped around one of the tables in the fellowship hall to cut-up fresh fruit for a salad. Once at Northwoods Baptist our children joined the other kids already playing among the toys in one of the Sunday school rooms. I took a break from setting up the buffet line to check on the children. Despite the language barriers (all of the other children were Latino) each group of playing children contained both Americans and Latinos.
Once all the food was gone (every scrap was eaten on the spot or wrapped in plastic and foil to later consumption), the kitchen and dining room cleaned and everyone packed into vehicles some interesting conversations ensued about the evening. Nicholas wondered, “Why were some of those kids mean?” After hearing of the “mean play” we responded, “they weren’t mean, they just play differently than you do.” When we informed them that all of the children with whom they were playing were actually homeless too they were aghast. In that moment the reality of their actions and their kindness emerged. We explained again that the true meaning of Christmas is acting with love like Jesus did. We read them stories out of the Gospels where Jesus tells his followers to feed those who are hungry, cloth those who are naked and visit those in prison. Natalie and Nick wanted us to read the stories over and over again. We explained that when we go through their plethora of toys piled high in the corners of their room gathering the one’s they don’t use we give them to children just like those they played with the night before.
We’ll keep reminding them about the events of Tuesday evening. We will also seek out similar opportunities for us to get involved here at home. There are several homeless ministries in Athens that accept volunteers. It should be easy to find someplace to work.
Oscar Romero has expressed wonderful thoughts about the subject of poverty in light of the advent season (Copied from - http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/martyrs-voice.htm?source=DailyDig):
No one can celebrate a genuine Christmas without being truly poor. The self-sufficient, the proud, those who, because they have everything, look down on others, those who have no need even of God – for them there will be no Christmas. Only the poor, the hungry, those who need someone to come on their behalf, will have that someone. That someone is God, Emmanuel, God-with-us. Without poverty of spirit there can be no abundance of God. (December 24, 1978)
When the poor have nowhere to rest their bodies, and their children fleeing from the cold find only hammocks strung up in the fields and coffee groves, we must recall that the Savior’s good news is for all. The happiness of the Lord who created us to fulfill his salvation is everyone’s. (December 24, 1978)
Christ built his classroom of redemption among the poor – not because money is evil, but because money often makes slaves of those who worship the things of earth and forget about God. (December 25, 1978)
I pray that his words and our experiences of this week will stick in my mind and affect our hearts this season and throughout the year.
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