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UPDATE 6.18.05

I was at a stoplight about a two months ago on a very warm day.  I felt around in the backseat of my car for a bottle of water since I had just come from the grocery store.  I was so glad to have something refreshing to drink, and was relaxing and enjoying my music when I looked up and noticed a homeless man with a cardboard sign.  He was going from car to car to get spare change and sweat was dripping down his face from the hot sun.  We made eye contact and, embarassed for some inexplicable reason, I put my head down.   That's when I saw my bottled water.  Who was I to sit in my air-conditioned car and ignore this man when I had 23 more bottles of water in my backseat?

I rolled down my window and asked the man if he would like some water.  His eyes got big and he enthusiastically replied, "Yeah!".  I held the bottle out to him.  He was so thankful, but I was the one who got the greater blessing that day, because it was the first step in towards something much greater.

I now keep bottled water and peanut butter crackers in my car with me at all times so I can pass it out to the homeless I drive past each day in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale.  Usually people are so impatient on the road and lay on the horn if it takes more than .5 seconds for you to step on the gas when the light turns green, but never once has anyone blown their horn at me when I stop for just a few seconds to hand a bottle of water out of my window.  Maybe they feel guilty about not giving anything and feel like it's the least they could do to wait ten seconds for me to go, I don't know, but it's such a good feeling to be able to meet some of these men and women's immediate needs that they don't know what they're missing!

I recently sat with a homeless man outside of a drugstore for about a half an hour to tell and show him God's love.   Someone walked past us and handed the man some coins.  He said thanks and then turned to me and said, "What do these people think 32 cents is going to do for me?  See this?"  He pulled eight dollars out of his pocket.  "I've got money.  I don't need their money."  He had a small bottle of whiskey and held it up.  "This is what I need". 

Undoubtedly, many of them have addictions and don't need money to pay for them.   What they need is a reason to let go of their addictions: something worth living for, something that gives them a feeling of peace that they haven't been able to find any other way.  Anytime I'm in a position to do so, I try to stop and talk with the homeless people I see and show them someone cares.  I know they need food, water, clothing, and shelter.  And when I'm driving past them in my own safe, comfortable little world and can't stop to spend time with them, I can easily provide the first two things, at least for one hot afternoon. 

One of my close friends serves at a homeless shelter EVERY Saturday (can you imagine giving up your day off each week to do that?) and works with the sock ministry giving out socks and other toiletries to the homeless.  She keeps those items in her car and reaches out to the homeless every chance she gets.  That's never been something I had the heart for, and I never would have thought this up on my own, but I really believe that providing water to the homeless is something small and simple that God has shown me I can do to make a difference every day.

I've told my friends about it and some of them have started doing the same thing.  One is a member of Sam's Club and says she gets 24 bottles for $3.99.  Tonight one of them suggested we print out labels for the bottles to share the things we would like to talk about with the men and women if we weren't in the car and were able to sit down and have a conversation.   She knows of a company that prints the labels, so I'm going to work on that this week. I'm calling the project "Living Waters".

Why am I telling you all of this?  For three reasons:

First of all, if you pass homeless people now and again on your trips around town and always go through that should-I-pretend-like-I-don't-see-him dilemma, I encourage you to be bold, roll down your window, and see the look of gratitude on another human being's face when you provide something that means so much and costs you so little time and money.

Second of all, I hope to inspire you the way my friends have inspired me to reach out to other people in a ME FIRST world.  You probably have your own creative ideas that fit your lifestyle- think about what you can do to have a positive impact on someone you would normally walk right past.   Yesterday one of my friends had some extra potted plants she had bought for decorations at a fundraiser.  While I was busy thinking about where I could place them on MY balcony, she suggested we leave them arbitrarily on people's doorsteps!  I enjoyed sneaking them over to strangers' front steps far more than I would have enjoyed having to water another plant in my house each day, and think of the impact on people in a our cynical society!  Another example:  I recently started paying for the person behind me at toll booths.  (I also have the toll collector tell the people in the car that it's paid for by the Lord, and Jesus loves them, but you don't have to say a word!).  Random acts of kindness like that aren't my original concept, but has anyone ever paid a toll for YOU?  Me, neither.  Your idea may not be creative, but so few people have witnessed acts of kindness from total strangers that they'll be blown away.  You will begin getting the same thrill from giving as you do from getting.

And lastly,  if you would like to make a donation towards my Living Waters project, you can click on the 'Make a Donation' button above and put 'homeless' on the line where it says 'Item or Product' or send a check to the address above.  Some people make donations as small as $5- the amount doesn't matter!  The point is that you are reaching out to help someone else.

Thank you for whatever type of contributions you make, here or directly in your community! :-)