Until a few years ago when the city passed a law banning panhandling, El Paso, Texas, was overrun with homeless men and women. Because of our mild, sunny weather, these individuals migrated here during the winter months and congregated on street corners at every major intersection.
Those who do not live in areas that attract homeless people probably have no idea of the diversity among them. While some are old and sick, most are under age thirty-five. Many are big, healthy-looking young men whom an observer feels certain could obtain employment in a variety of jobs. Others are young women who look as if they are new to the streets.
These “street people” vie for attention in order to put themselves in a position to receive the lion’s share of the money from the hands of motorists thrust out the windows of cars stopped at the traffic lights. Many attire themselves in makeshift costumes; others perform in order to attract attention. One young man spent the entire day every day at a busy intersection leaping into the air and performing all sorts of acrobatic gyrations and dance moves. His “routine” was so strenuous that one had to wonder how he was able to continue for ten or fifteen minutes; to continue to perform at such a pace for hours was beyond explanation.
About fifteen years ago, when the influx of homeless people in El Paso was at its peak, my daughter Francesca worked briefly teaching at a private Christian school. One of her high school students, whose father was very wealthy, commented in class one day that his dad had told him to never give money to a homeless person because they were drunks and druggies who were just going to use the money to get high. The other students in the class agreed with him, indicating that their parents had given them similar advice.
Francesca later told me that when the students had finished commenting she told them that their parents were right; almost all homeless people are alcoholics and addicts, and many of them are mentally ill. Then she told them something that I have never forgotten. She said, “While all of that is true, you must remember that their need is real.”
I do not know how much of an impact that statement had on Francesca’s students, but I know that it forever changed the way I view the homeless. It is easy to say, “They should get a job. They should sober up. They should get off drugs. They should go home to their parents.” The truth is that they should probably do all of those things, but the reality is that they are sick and addicted and cold and hungry.
I do not have the answer to the problem of that subculture of people who live on the streets. They hate shelters and will normally use them only if it is so cold that they fear freezing to death if they spend the night outside. They do not want food or blankets; they want money to spend on alcohol and drugs. Individuals who attempt to distribute food, clothing or other basic necessities, are frequently verbally attacked and sometimes physically beaten by those whom they are attempting to help.
I do know that each of these people is precious to Jesus, and we who call ourselves Christians have a responsibility to help them. How they came to be in such dire circumstances is not as important as are the circumstances themselves. Whatever else is going on in their lives, their need is real.
For books by Joyce, visit her website at http://www.frontier2000.net/
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