By Karen O’Connor

 At church this weekend the outreach pastor announced Project Homeless Connect: “a one-day event that provides housing support, and quality of life resources to homeless individuals.” This is an opportunity for anyone to find God in helping the homeless. Dentists will provide dental care. Hairstylists will give haircuts. And children and adults will receive basic supplies, food, and medicine.

This announcement led me to the letter from James in the Bible, chapter 2:2-4:

Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes,

and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.  If you show special attention

to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say

to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”  have you

not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

During this season of tough economic times, great numbers of people are sleeping under bridges and on benches, going without proper nourishment, and afraid of what the next day will bring. There may be little any of us can do to resolve the big issue of homelessness, but each of us can do a little thing.  One helpful article that describes ways to do that is  How to Help the Homeless: 4 Ways to Help the Homeless in Your Community by Mary Fairchild.

I hope you’ll join me in taking one action this week and in doing so find God in helping the homeless. Please view this helpful You Tube video from Sleepless San Diego, on “5 Ways to Really Help Someone Who is Homeless.”