REFLECTIONS

People Who Need People

Amidst the rubble of human brokenness, a hidden jewel was waiting to be found. He didn’t seem much different from the others then, but something about him captured Debbie’s eye and his life would be changed by it. And not only would his life be changed, but the lives of an untold number of others. The story of Denver Moore is told in the bestselling book, Same Kind of Difference as Me. And stories of others whose lives were touched by that book are revealed in its sequel, What Difference Do It Make?

Denver Moore, a once homeless African-American, cannot read nor write but with help from his friend, Ron Hall, he co-authored two books. The first tells the touching story of how Debbie Hall brought their lives together and changed them both. Their second book tells stories of how other lives were changed by the first one. Both are about people who need people. Denver put it like this.

“What people needs is people,” he said. “I remember a lotta times wishin that instead of given me money, somebody’d just ask me my name.” And “Street people done heard more sermons than most preachers ever preached. Lotta good folks come ‘round the ‘hood, talking ‘bout Jesus this, Jesus that. Tellin about Him is one thing…who gon’ stick around and show us Jesus? See, deliverin kindness ain’t the pastor’s job. That’s our job. When Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, He didn’t go with ‘em. He stayed back and laid low.”[1]

Sometimes it seems hard to reach out to those in need. Sometimes it’s hard to see beyond the dirt under their nails, the odor of their unwashed bodies, and the angry look in their eyes. But that’s where the jewels are. Amidst the rubble of human brokenness is the need for the food we serve, the clothing we bring, and the shelter we offer. But there is a need for one thing more—people.

“Deliverin’ kindness ain’t the pastor’s job. That’s our job,” Denver says. We are the people needed to ask them their names; and we are the people needed to show them the love of Jesus through our kindness. It’s really not so hard to do. And who knows—

We may change the lives of some hidden jewels just waiting to be found.

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The piece above, first published March 28, 2010, is reproduced as a reminder that life is about serving God. We do it best by “deliverin kindness” to each other.

You are the light of the world,

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org.

[1] Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent, What Difference Do It Make, Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN 2009

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