Merry Christmas, Mark

I met Mark this afternoon on the streets of downtown Seattle. He was sort of pacing on the corner, with his hands out and his eyes pleading to all that passed by. When I approached him, he looked straight into my eyes and asked, "Do you have any money for food?"

Now we had been driving for almost an hour, looking for a homeless person who looked like they might benefit from the last care package that we'd made up. After hesitantly passing by a person who sort of looked like they maybe could be homeless, my brother looked up, pointed straight ahead and said, "I know that guy is homeless."

"Which one?"

"The one on the corner in the green jacket. I've talked with him before. It wasn't fun..."

"Why wasn't it fun?"

"Well..." (pause) "I mean, he's crazy."

I was just satisfied to know that he was, indeed, homeless and that I wouldn't be offending him by offering him a package wrapped in a blanket... So I said, "I love crazy people, I am one..." and jumped out of the car.

When I handed the package to this man, he immediately asked me what was in it. I told him that it had some warm clothes and cookies and a gift card to McDonald's, and he again looked me straight in the eye and said, "Thank you!"

"You're welcome," I said. "What is your name?"

He stared into my face again. "Mark."

"Merry Christmas to you, Mark."

Again, he responded with an eager, "Thank you!"

And that was it. We both turned and went our own ways.

I know that this was better than most things I could have done this Christmas. It was better than watching Christmas movies at home or taking a nap or playing the games that we had all just received in our stockings. I'm thankful that the Lord blessed us with enough to give this Christmas. I'm thankful that he gave us the desire to give what little we had to other people rather than to each other.

But I can't help but remember the hundreds of people we passed as we carefully chose the recipients of our six packages. And I can't help but remember the statistics regarding "crazy" people and homeless people and the intricate history and downfall of our mental health system in America. I can't help but grieve for this marginalized population. For the many "crazies" on the streets who don't have a soft place to lay their heads and don't have the ability to make a dime on their own.

Lord, be merciful to them. Be near, and care for them as only you can. Provide a warm place for them to sleep. Provide their next meal in supernatural or ordinary ways. And, Lord, fill your church with a spirit of compassion and mercy. Bring about your kingdom in and through us, and deliver us from fear, pride, selfish ambition, greed, hostility, condemning spirits... May your kingdom come and your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.

"We want justice in the system: The strong fight for the weak..."