Love them Anyway

We were talking at a meeting this evening about the homeless problem in our city. We discussed the uncertainty of giving someone money -- it is really a help? What are the alternatives? One member of the committee was rather cynical (and maybe rightfully so) about the motivations of many of the people on the streets in our time.

The chairman of the committee said something very graceful. She said, "But we are to love them and love them and love them and love them."

She's right. Sometimes it might be hard to figure out the best way to love people, but that should be our response. Love. I heard a song this morning on XM radio, called Anyway by Brad Reynalds. If you click on that link and then on "music," you can hear the song.

But read the words:

He's been sleeping on the sidewalk
since the mother went away,
Can you love him anyway?
Really love him anyway?
He lost his mind but finds the time to bum a dollar every day,
But my Jesus says to love him anyway.

Because love is the only evidence against us that tells the world we're guilty of a change
There is not a one who lives among us who wasn't lost somewhere along the way.
But judgment turned to mercy and mercy took our blame when it all comes down to loving anyway.

So open up your heart and let them see how it feels, and what it really means.

Love is the only evidence against us that tells the world we are guilty of a change. Amen.

Images: Both at work this morning, taken with my new camera, which is one of these (Nikon Coolpix 7.1 and "one of these" is a link, if you want to see it. We'll have to see over the next few weeks if it improves the images.