A God Story
by: UBFM Member
Homeless. We indeed tend to attribute this word to
our friends on the streets. The definition: without a home or permanent
residence. Although most of our friends do not in fact have a permanent
residence, nor your typical environment one might call a home, some of our
friends prefer to be where they are. Homeless has been used in such a
derogatory way; from the media, to the government, to local authorities, to
individuals across the world. The stigma surrounding our friends over the
years, have been about danger, crime, trash, and a waste
to society. Our friends are human beings, men and women who are who they
choose to be, who are where they want to be, who are where they think they
ought to be, who are where they are for whatever reason. They have a name and a
story. Don’t we all?
How do we define our homes? Is it by bricks, stone, or wood?
Is there a kitchen or a bed? Is there a friend, a wife, a husband, children, or
pets? Are you alone? If you were to take something out of the equation, would
it shake your home? Would it tear it down altogether? I think we have all felt
homeless at one point in our lives. We have built foundations and structures
that have been demolished. How much would it take not to want to rebuild? How
much would it take to just want to disappear? When that happens, at the end of
the day, there isn’t anything that could ever tumble down again. Caring is just
too much of a struggle, that you would rather go hungry. . Let’s face it, if
you can’t get out of bed long enough, someone will eventually come and take
that bed away.
The beauty of UBFM is that we make our friend’s home a
little more welcoming. There is hope in friendship and a non-judgmental
attitude. I believe we have the power to restore something in broken individuals,
to at least share an inkling of security and trust, much of what our own homes
are made of. Our burritos and our hands can create a foundation of faith for
what has fallen victim to whatever misfortune, pain, or choice one has had to
endure. We can't impose our own views of salvation on anyone. We can
only teach, support, and love. We give them more opportunities, more choices.
Then we love them regardless of the choices they make.
They are either strangers or friends. I don’t have a stamp
with Homeless. engraved on it; it is not a title. But I do have my own Home-less
scars, which fuels my compassion to make Memphis a more welcoming home for
our friends.
UBFM has the potential to be a home.
