Comments on: Our Generation Must Change the World

By: James Hogg

James Hogg — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:32:22 +0000

When I was at university a friend of mine went to St George’s-Tron in Glasgow and since he had go through city centre after dark at night he would always be prepared and buy a sandwich at the bus station so he could give it to a homeless person.

By: albert

albert — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:57:39 +0000

Monica,

Let me tell you a funny story. When I was a student I met a guy begging on University Avenue Glasgow. ( I’ve got a history with beggars) I stopped and spoke to him, asked him about his family etc. He didn’t say much. I then suggested that I’d buy him a roll and sausage. So we walked together to the cafe. it was a kind of tense walk- When i arrived at the cafe I told the guy to find a table and I’d bring him his roll and sausage. Well he had no sooner sat down than the man behind the counter went mad! Get him out of here he shouted. He’s making my cafe stink. I’ve health and hygiene laws to abide by. He’ll stay in here all day in the warmth and chase my customers away. Well rather sheepishly we both left. The man looked at me and said I only asked you for a few bob I never wanted a sausage in the first place. Lesson number one – don’t try to second guess a beggar.

By: michelle

michelle — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:23:05 +0000

thanks for sharing your thoughts n actions, got me thinking about what i do to support the homeless in our area. Alloa Ludgate has a homeless project that is expanding and we can all do more. The homeless in our town, as they are across the world, are a real mixture of people with often complex problems. I would hope that if i ever need support and help it would be offered without judgement or conditions. As you know some church members are addicts, some in recovery but others still struggling or in denial that they are ill and need help. I don’t know about the idea that society is going backwards, the problem of drug n alcohol addiction has always been with us. Now growing numbers of people are able to access services to recover from the illness of addiction, people before went mad or died. Money is always great but a heart that is moved to change a mind, that is way more powerful. People who suffer from homelessness and/or addictions still face stigma and shame from those who think that addiction is a moral issue, but what they really need is someone to stand alongside, shoulder to shoulder to support and comfort, strengthen, show compassion, understanding and empathy. We all have areas that set our hearts on fire, areas that we are called to serve but the commonality is Christ, his love should form the basis for every action. We can’t control the outcome, just do what we can to serve.

By: Monica

Monica — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:12:48 +0000

Interesting thoughts… maybe the best way to care for this poor chap is to go to a local shop and buy him a cuppa tea? That way you are providing for his needs, giving something to him but without potentially funding a habit. Monica

By: Rae

Rae — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 23:47:36 +0000

I’m reading a book about a man who survived the killing fields in Cambodia. In one of the chapters there is a quote from Hebrews chapter 13 “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”

You don’t know that the homeless guy in the street was a drug addict or addicted to alcohol. We are all so cynical that we just expect it to be the case. Maybe the £1 you gave him showed him that people do care, that there is a God out there who can love him even when no one else does.

We should be more vocal about injustice and about issues of homelessness and poverty in this country and throughout the world. Showing God’s love though our concern for others, for the strangers in our midst.