Volunteering

With everything that has been going on with work and school, I haven't been able to volunteer as much as I would normally like to. But yesterday I had an opportunity to take part in the Feed the Homeless ministry at ACOG. It was an event that you can only describe by being there.

We arrived at the church about 7am, had prayer and praise, took a short exam and left for the human services facility a few blocks away. Arriving a little after 8am, the line was nearly 4 blocks long with people awaiting an opportunity to obtain a food voucher. We were told that people had begun arriving at 6pm the previous night in hopes of obtaining a voucher to buy food for Thanksgiving. Did I mention that the temp was in the 20s.

As we walked down the line of people shaking hands and wishing them a happy holiday, you could see the sense of happiness they had just to be able to provide food for their families. Many thanked us while others asked for prayer. People admitted to being addicted to cocain and many were just pleased to have a hug and a smile.

Often times I can get so bombarded with my minor issues that I forget people are going without food and shelter. On the way home from the event, I admitted to a friend that I sometimes question why people have to suffer in such a manner....drug addiction, homelessness, poverty. I understand that the bible tells us that the poor we will have with us always but I don't understand why...and perhaps its not meant for me to.

In a few weeks, I'll be back to help pass out Christmas gifts to children. I really look forward to it...I really look forward to helping others.