In 2015, I received the first email from Andy. Life has treated him rough. It chewed him up and spit him out on the streets. Yes, he lives on the streets. He is a homeless person.

Every now and then we talk. He often gives me a glimpse into a world completely unfamiliar to me. He tells me about his fellow homies (as he calls them) and how they fight with one another. Because he comes from the financial world, he manages their money, resulting in less fighting.

It’s not a nice place to be. He feels pretty discouraged and writes:

I just made it through December because of a financial contribution from grace. I invited another homie for dinner. But oh, it’s so hard: no money, no job, no family, no car, no home, no friends …

I was walking down the street on Sunday. “Hello Andre!” it echoed through the streets. It was a pastor I know. He “listened” to my story and when he turned to go, he said: “You’ll be fine again!”

I cursed him to hell.

My heart broke. But from the other side, where the homies yearn for someone who really cares, came this advice:

For those of you who are struggling to open the Bible right now, push through, keep going.

And if you have a friend, a brother, a wife, a child, a church, or you are a grandfather, go on your knees and let tears of gratitude flow from you – like a living fountain of water. “Live thankfully!”

But then reality bites again:

The day when you are where I am, you know the end is in sight. No more praying, no more fighting, no tears to shed, for you are as empty as the Sahara Desert.

Homeless people are alone. On the way to nowhere and no place of belonging. That’s how people were before Jesus came to earth. On the way to nowhere and stumbling around in the dark. But now it’s different.

¹⁰ … to tell others of the night-and-day difference He made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

We are part of a family. We have brothers and sisters in faith. We have a place, a place of honour with our brother, Jesus. We are worthy of having a place of belonging, but best of all? We have an eternal home to look forward to when our time on earth is over.

Therefore, amid the battle we are fighting here on earth, we can live fully. The love we receive from God gives us a place of belonging where we can live His love together with others. May you tackle today and know that you are no longer a homeless person, but that you can drink from the fountain of God’s love.

Scripture
1 Peter 2:9-12

Reflection
Where do you perhaps still live a little homeless?
How can you turn it around?
What does God’s infinite love mean to you?

Prayer
Father, thank you for Your love that You continually pour out on us. Thank you that I am not homeless, but have a place where I belong. You are so good to me. Amen.