Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Don’t Give Up On Anyone

“And the King will tell them, ‘I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” -- Matthew 15:40

The tweet was plain and simple, much like I imagine the man. Denver Moore died peacefully in his sleep and was now with Miss Debbie in heaven. Two lives forever entwined because one woman refused to give up on a man who had already given up on himself.

One of the best books I’ve ever read is titled Same Kind of Different As Me. Denver Moore and Ron Hall, Debbie’s husband, wrote it. The book alternates between Denver’s story and Debbie and Ron’s story. Of course, they all come together. It’s one of those things that happen when someone dares to step out in faith and follow where God leads.

How often do we do that? Probably not nearly as often as we should. We’re full of excuses and easily discouraged. But God never said following Him would be easy.

Debbie Hall found her way to a place helping the homeless. And she refused to give up on a man everyone else had said was too hard, too far gone, to help. Denver Moore was a tough case but she touched his life, and his heart, with her unfailing gift for sharing Jesus’ love with someone others wouldn’t have bothered with.

We get so caught up in our own lives, our own desires, our own issues, that we can’t see beyond them. We want to do good. We know we’re supposed to care for others. We’re okay with that so long as it’s convenient, doesn’t cost any money, and we don’t have to get dirty. Caring for someone who is homeless is all those things and more.

I am amazed sometimes at all of us. We don’t won’t to forgive people who have made mistakes. We blame them because they can’t get past those mistakes when the truth is we’re equally to blame because we can’t get past their mistakes either. We keep expecting them to fail. We forget that God can change anyone. And God never, ever gives up on His children.

At our church we have a new program titled Celebrate Recovery. It is a fabulous outreach that has brought some wonderful people into our congregation. People who probably wouldn’t have joined us without this program. It is our goal, our responsibility, to always make them feel welcome and wanted. To help where we can, to accept, to care.

One of the hardest things in the world is to look beyond ourselves and see those who are alone and hurting in the world. Whatever the reason for where they are at, God tells us to reach out and love them as He does. In whatever way we can, for however long it takes.

Because Debbie Hall didn’t give up, Denver Moore is with her and Jesus in heaven right now. And that was worth it all.