I’ve been there. I have walked down the street or through the market and seen that man sitting there, asking for anything. Asking for food. Asking for money. Asking with outstretched hands for something to get him by and sustain him.
Ive been there. I have walked right past that woman with her children lookingfor their next meal. I have ignored them, looked the other way, and given the ‘sorry, not today’ response. I have justified it with every type of excuse.
I’ve been there. I have sat in the dirt hands outstretched and asking for something, anything to give me hope. No, I have never been homeless or begged on the street, but today at World Race Training camp, the Lord gave me a glimpse into the lives of these continually unseen, neglected, and sometimes helpless people we call ‘poor’.
Every training camp, Adventures in Missions stages a mock marketplace. We create scenarios a future World Racer might encounter in the field. Each staff member volunteers for a role. I decided to be a beggar. We are encouraged to make the role as realistic as possible. I had already been working hard that day, so I already was pretty smely. II then covered myself in mud. Wore tattered, dirty clothing, and went barefoot with dusty feet.)
Everyone knew this was a simulation, so I wasnt sure what to expect. The trainees are given different currencies, thrown into a market where they must buy that nights dinner from the available vendors. The market closes in thirty minutes and you will more than likely have to exchange currencies from the exchange tables. They are thrown into a situation where they need to focus on geting a task done.
I did, however, get an experience of a lifeime. I was treated exactly like the men and women I had encountered in the past. I was ignored. I was kicked and tripped over. I was shoved around. I felt like I wasnt even there. I felt less than everyone else in my world at peoples feet. After a short while of reaching out to people for help, I found myself no longer wanting to look at them, I just looked down and kept my hands out.
It was at that time, a young woman came to me and knelt beside me. She said that she knew this was a simulation, but seeing me sitting there being ignored and walked over, broke her heart. She asked if she could pray for me. Not the character I was playing, but for me. The man going through the eye opening experience I was.
I was so grateful for her and the experience. All I wanted was interaction. All I wanted was to be noticed and recognized simply as a human being. I had others pray for me after her, but I appreciated her connection and just recognizing the situation I was in and praying for me in it. The relationship can mean so much more.
I have been there. So next time I see someone sitting in the street or shaking a cup of change, I pray the Holy Spirit will continually remind me of this day and how it felt. I want to stop and sit with them, even for a short time. I want to speak God’s love, His acceptance, and His kingdom of abundance over them. Even if I don’t have the money or food to help, I want to recognize them as human beings and pray for them in the situation they are in.
I think you should too.
