Returning to my office in downtown Hillsboro this afternoon, I noticed a tall black man with a scraggly beard holding the hand of a tired looking older white lady.  They were walking down the road carrying several bags, clearly killing time and looking for the next place to hole up for a chilly night.  I felt an impulse to talk to them so I circled my car around the block and intercepted them two streets down.

As I listened to their stories my heart broke.  Each night I am able to go home to the warm embrace of my wife, a hot meal, and wrestling with five raucous kids.  But not Willie & Janice – they will shuffle on, carrying many burdens far greater than their duffel bags.

According to these two kind friends the immediate needs of the homeless are:

1. A place to store their stuff during the day so they don’t have to walk around with it.

2. A place to get clean.

3. Laundry vouchers.

4. Protection on the street. Willie shared how often the homeless become victims of others who are homeless.

I am not sure what this means for us.  I just know that Jesus gave the ultimate homeless (us) Himself, so that we might be brought home to the God who had every right to shut the door on us.  In light of this love, how can we not love others and throw open the doors of our lives and resources in the name of Jesus?