Perspective Through Serving

So I'm sitting here listening to the sound of the clothes of a homeless man tumbling around in my dryer while the clothes of another homeless man spin in my washer....have just finished folding the clothes of a homeless mother and her seven year old son.

Talk about a profoundly humbling week...  

My church houses the homeless one week a year for ChristNet.  Our 30ish guests are provided meals, showers, beds, laundry service and friendship.

We have groups volunteer to help provide three meals per day - breakfast, bagged lunch and dinner.  We have volunteers doing laundry.  We have volunteers who stay overnight as chaperons. We have volunteers who provide prayer and friendship. ...and so much more.

I have the privilege of volunteering to help check in the guests Monday-Friday, as well as, do laundry several nights this week.

This week has definitely put things in perspective.  

We all have bad days.  We all think that our lives our tough.  But really, how "bad" do we have it?

Do we have... 
...a place to live?  
...a pillow and bed to sleep in?  
...a place to shower or bath as needed?
...a car to drive?  
...clean underwear and socks to wear everyday?
...a job to go to?
...a warm meal whenever?
...a little extra to splurge on things not truly "needed"?
...a phone, internet, cable, etc...to always be connected?

Is it really the end of the world...
...if we hit a traffic jam?  
...if the line at the store is slower than a turtle taking a nap?  
...if the brainiac at work has another brain fart?
...if it it snows more than an inch?
...You get the drift.

Life for the vast majority of us is pretty darn good.

Our perspective is influenced by our experiences.  

Our experiences shape our future. 

Humbly serving others is not only a privilege but also an honor.  Our feelings of love and compassion for others drive us to serve those in need.  

My future has been forever changed by this experience.

I am so very thankful for all I have been given and so very, very blessed to be able to serve with some really awesome, selfless people.

Ah, there goes the dryer.  Last load completed...gotta go fold clothes so they are fresh and clean and not wrinkled.