Cold
With all of speeches and writings on global warming, I did not think we would see this happen. Last winter was mild for the Atlanta metro area. Mild enough in fact that our small raised garden bed was overcome with bugs. I am pretty sure they ate more green beans than we did. But nonetheless, we woke up Tuesday morning to 6F in the "Sunny South" and a windchill of -11F. As I bundled up and prepared to begin my commute into the city, my mind went to those homeless souls that live under the overpasses and congregate outside Chick-fil-a in the city waiting for a cup of coffee.
I often get caught up in my own problems and struggles and overlook how blessed I am. I spent the night in a warm bed under a roof and sheltered from the howling wind. But many do not enjoy that luxury. Whether a product of their own bad decisions or misfortunate situations, I do not believe that anyone deserves to sleep under a bridge in 6 degree weather.
As I scanned the AJC headlines this morning, there it was. A 70 year old man found dead this morning - hypothermia believed to be the cause of death. Without shelter, he froze to death. We know nothing of his life and struggle only his demise. We cannot cast blame or dismiss his death by calling him a bum. We have failed him. The government system? No. The community. The church. We have failed him. Its unacceptable. We build expensive monumental cathedrals which get used one day a week and lock them up tight six days to keep out vagrants and bums.
Why should we care?
Matthew 25:31-40 NIV :
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
