I know a gentleman who spent decades homeless. Though he is now housed, when he reflects on those days he says that the biggest gift anyone could have given him was a simple “Hello” or “Good Morning.” He didn’t have money to give gifts himself, but made a point to acknowledge the humanity of the people around him. So often, he says, he simply felt invisible and less than human.
My son asked me why we can’t just give people homes. In his 7-year-old mind, having a home is not optional. Every person needs a home. So, why do some people have them and others don’t? Why can’t we just give every person a home?
I had to admit to him that I didn’t know, but I wish we could just give everyone the things they need to be alive and to be human. The truth is, we do treat people as less than human if it happens that they cannot afford the things to support their humanity: food, water, clothing, shelter, good safe sleep.
Someone recently asked me if I thought that it was drug addiction or mental illness that was the greatest contributing factor to homelessness. It’s neither. There are not enough homes for everyone to have one. We have decided that homes are commodities and commodities only have value if there is scarcity. The truth is that the way our economy and society works ensures that someone will always be homeless.
I assume that the man who asked me that question was asking out of genuine curiosity and ignorance, but it did make me wonder if he would think that the gentleman I know who once experienced homelessness was mentally ill or had an addiction disorder. I wondered if he thought some people with certain circumstances just don’t deserve a home?
Jesus warns us that our whole lives are just a set of circumstances. We are not the things we do or the experiences we have. The kingdom of God is addressing the humanity of the people we meet before their circumstances. Circumstances can change, but the image of God will always be present in the people you meet.
