The Honor Card

In so many ways, 1987 seems like yesterday when I first came across my homeless friend Michael Saavedra. What initially was simply a good Samaritan gesture turned into a three-year caretaker role and evolved into a commitment to use my talents to raise awareness and funds for the homeless and needy. While Mike’s time here on earth was short, his impact on me and others continues to resonate more than three decades later.

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The first Honor Card "Not Forgotten" has the most timeless title. Mike has not been forgotten, and the fact that a wandering, homeless, mentally ill individual could inspire change is heartwarming. For not only did Mike make a difference in our community, but he also made a difference in me.

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Are you making a difference? It is a profound question and one that should give us all pause to think about our everyday actions. I was fortunate that Thursday morning when I lent an ear and a few dollars to buy a stranger breakfast. That morning, I sort of went back to school and got an education on how to look at life from a different perspective. I immediately recognized that if I wanted to be like Christ, I needed to put others first and add value to their lives. That is a tough chore in this day and time, but the opportunities abound around us everywhere. The question we have to ask ourselves is, do I want to connect with people, or do I want to correct people?

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Homelessness is a complex reality. It sounds simple, but there is no single explanation for how people fall into homelessness. I've sat with men and women who suffered from mental health disorders, many who were recovering from drug or alcohol abuse, and those who had experienced physical and sexual abuse. Ultimately, each person's story held different tragic turns which contributed to their situation. We fail to honor the complexities of suffering when we oversimplify these contributing factors, or worse, quietly assign blame to the person next to us.

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So, it's essential for us to understand this as we seek to care for those in this predicament. Whether you engage with the homeless every day in your job or simply drive past a woman standing on a corner; to affirm the dignity of an individual who is homeless and work for their well-being is a Kingdom calling.

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If you work or volunteer consistently with the homeless, hear the words of the author of Hebrews: "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them" (Hebrews 6:10).

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We may never know the impact of making a difference in someone’s life, but if you pause and look at your reflection in the mirror, you will see, they are making a difference in you!

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"And do not forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God". Hebrews 13:16