Perhaps for your benefit, more than mine ...

I seriously doubt that many Christians see homeless people as investment opportunities.

Hi!

Thanks for taking a moment to read this.  My name is Kathleen.  I'm homeless - one of hundreds of homeless people here in Raleigh.

I'm not complaining and I'm not bitter.  I realize there are plenty of people in this world who are much worse off than I, and many have no help and no hope.

It hasn't always been like this for me.  I grew up on the Cherokee Indian reservation in southern California, earned an Associate's degree at San Diego Community College, and worked for ten years as a Medical Terminologist.  I came to Raleigh with my husband, my hopes and my dreams about fifteen years ago.

But life got ugly and my husband became abusive.  As he turned to more destructive life choices, he became violent and I fled - literally - for my life.  My dreams for a brighter future in North Carolina faded.

But God, who is rich in mercy, has undertaken for me.  Though "poor" (some might even say "destitute") by the world's standards, I have a hope and a future now that is far more glorious than anything this world can offer.

      My needs are simple, but urgent.

I am a diabetic, and I need insulin to live.  There was a government program that provided it, but due to "budget constraints" the funding stopped.

But my need is your blessing.  Jesus said that what you do for the sick, the poor and the homeless He would consider as being done to Him.  That makes me and every other down-and-outer one of the best "investment opportunities" you will ever have.

I don't expect to be on the street much longer.  I had enought of a working career to have something due from Social Security.  When those payments begin, I hope to be able to stop "flying a sign" on the street, and perhaps begin to help some of those who are worse off than I am ... or perhaps start writing a book.

Another immediate possibility, perhaps even more likely, is that the Lord will return with a shout and a trumpet blast to gather His children to himself.  We are now in the days that the prophets described as the "last days."  The mysteries of Daniel's "sealed" prophecies are being revealed, the horrors of Revelation are now, for the first time in history, technologically possible, and the political alignments prophesied for the last days are all in place.

      Please don't feel sorry for me.

I don't want or need pity.  But stop and consider, and then just do what's right.

God helps those who help the poor.  Please don't think this appeal just applies to me.  Rather, construe this as coming from every homeless man, woman, and child in this community.  Our histories and needs are varied, but our presence here is a message from God to the people of Raleigh:

Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.   
                                                                                                                    _{- Ezekiel 16:49-50}

Those people had resources:  plenty of food and plenty of time ... but instead of being gracious to the poor and needy, they chose arrogance and abomination.  They probably considered themselves "good people," but at the end it did not go well for them.

Thank you for hearing me out.  God Bless You!

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NOTE from Webmaster:  If you wish to contribute to Kathleen's grocery and insulin expenses, please click on 'Donate' below and indicate "for Kathleen" in the appropriate field.  All gifts will be acknowledged.

FOR EXTRA ENRICHMENT:

And A Child Shall Lead Them by Belle Ringer — You never know who the angel on Earth is, and when the opportunity comes you should never walk away from it.

Feeding the homeless: Act of charity or a crime? — There?s a battle going on between the interest of economic development and tourism verses the needs of homeless individuals and the groups that serve them.

How Great is our God — The heavens declare the glory of God.  From Canis Majoris to Laminin, we see concrete evidence of God's power, majesty, and love.

Laundry Love brings faith to homeless — It?s an opportunity for people to live out their faith in a concrete way.

Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.   _{- Matthew 25:40}