So what’s the return on investment when I serve?
My Community Group went to Hope Central last week to serve a meal to about 150 homeless people. Part of the deal is that you not only serve the food, but you try to move around the room and love on folks however you can. Might be refilling their lemonade, cleaning up after them or chatting about whatever. Given my gift for gab (meaning I like chatting) I looked for the first opportunity to talk it up with someone and see where it went.
As I was refilling cups at one table I overheard a guy talking about the ’72 Miami Dolphins. He was describing their undefeated season in detail but couldn’t remember who the quarterback was who replaced Bob Griese for most of the season (It was Earl Morrall). I immediately jumped in and got in the most manic, mile-a-minute, minutia-laden sports conversation I have ever had. The guy’s name was Patrick. We shared little in common, but we shared the Dolphins. So Dolphins it was. As we spoke, Patrick mentioned he LOVED coffee. I then noticed he had 3 empties and about 15 empty sugar packets in front of him on the table and was waiving for a refill. He REALLY loved coffee.
In the windstorm of personal, professional and sports data that poured from him I learned he had been imprisoned for crack dealing at 19 and at some point was shot in the leg by either a rival, the police or himself. Or maybe his mother. It wasn’t clear. He showed me the scar, which deformed his lower leg pretty severely. Patrick more than loved the Dolphins. He had worked at the Orange Bowl and then the new stadium doing something with the grass. Don’t know what. That season of his life became his who world, his whole paradigm for living.
I suspect I was one of many who’ve heard his stories and theories about the Fins. Patrick was alert, almost hyper-vigilant, funny, happy, hopeful, at times clever and insightful. But as I listened, I knew Patrick would never get off the street. Something was broken in him at a fundamental level. He would not be restored to productivity and self sufficiency in this life. Patrick would need to find places like Hope Central to eat, like, everyday, for the rest of his life. Patrick was and is, in this world, permanently dependent.
So what’s the Return on Investment for a guy like Patrick? There are a lot of them in the homeless world, and they don’t fit the “rehabilitation” model. They will never earn their keep, pull their weight, actually “work for food.” I have my thoughts on that, but I’d like to know yours. What should we do with guys like Patrick? Drop me a line in the Comments, below.
Matt,
I do not know. Interestingly, I got a call from a guy I knew back in 3rd grade. After a life of “happy poverty” he decided to move to South Florida. With $100. And a suitcase. Now, thanks to a small loan from me and a good suggestion from you, he is living at Foundations of Broward. But he needs a job to stay. He is a good guy, but a little offbeat (ask my small group). What do you do for a guy like this who claims to love Jesus but is about two days from becoming homeless and, therefore, unemployable? What is the return on my investment, not to mention society’s, for sliding him a hundred bucks every couple of weeks? Am I enabling him? Is it better to give him “tough love?” Many questions, few answers, my brother…
Hello Matt,
Thankfully Jesus doesn’t look at the return of his investment when reaching for us to love. He is simply loving us. Are we to be a people who focus on a return investment when we help those around us or are we to be a people with pure open hands and love the ones that God places along our path. I believe in these times more than ever we need to make sure that we haven’t missed the boat. Although Jesus’s love for us came with a price, his life, our investment has already been paid for. I pray that we will be a people less focused on ourselves and more on the ones least likely in this world to take care of themselves. We are to be the hands, ears, feet and hearts of Jesus.
Jane Hall
Your question and comments about Patrick makes me think about the body of believers. Some are contributing members with their time, talents and treasure and others do not appear to be. Those that contribute are much richer for it while those that do not engage, for whatever reason (lack of ability, understanding or disobedience) miss much of the blessings of the body.