There is No Limit

It’s very difficult trying to help the homeless. The more time passes since my homelessness, the more I want to just distance myself from all the remaining homeless. It’s depressing to see hurting people and I’m tired of being depressed. Part of my reasoning for helping other homeless is that since I have been there before, I feel that I have better insight about what people need to do to get out of their desperate situation; at least I know what worked for me. Most times, people I try to help feel that no matter what they do, they don’t have any power to create any positive change in their lives. They focus on the negatives of the situation they are in and as a result don’t do anything to help themselves.

Sure there are times that you try and try and try and don’t seem to get anywhere. For example finding work. I am still looking for work. I have filled out way too many job applications online and met and talked to owners and managers of businesses with no avail. I am also working through vocational rehabilitation and have a job coach. I know I have to keep on doing what I am doing even though it’s pointless at times and I will tell you why.

An old friend of mine, Albert has been homeless for about 4 years. He is a white veteran in his early 30s. He does not look for employment and has the same whiny rhetoric about his plight of being homeless and jobless year after year. Who is more apt to get a job – the person who is applying and searching or the person who whines about not having work? Yes, your life sucks and I see that you are unhappy but you have been doing the same things and whining about the same things for 4 years! Since you aren’t any better off than 4 years ago, whatever you are doing is definitely not working. Try doing something different! Life is more than selling your $200 of food stamps for $100 cash so you can buy marijuana. You deserve more! You are the righteousness of God meaning that you are in a right relationship with God thanks to the death and resurrection of His son, Jesus Christ.

Pain and suffering are part of everyone’s life regardless of socioeconomic status. When you pray to God, ask him to allow you to experience His love and comfort (consolation and encouragement) in a tangible way. When you are feeling bad, crawl up onto the lap of God, hide your face in the softness of his chest, cry and allow yourself to feel him rock you, his arms holding you close to Him. Allow yourself to feel the unfathomable and immeasurable love that the Father has for you.

When I get frustrated with people I will say to myself, “Why should I try to help these people. All they want is something given to them for free. I was there, and I’m not now. Their homelessness is their problem, not mine. Why do I want to surround myself with such depressing people? They don’t want to do anything to help themselves so why should I try?” To help put myself back into the proper mindset for helping others, I turn to the bible.

Today I am reading II Corinthians. When I start feeling like I want to distance myself from the homeless I need to tell myself that I am judging them and that’s not right. Judging is God’s job. How many times did someone try to help me and I turned a deaf ear to them? How many times did God listen to me whine? There is no limit to God’s love, therefore there won’t be any limit to my reaching out to people in need of a lifeline. My service to the homeless will also know no limit. Although I do not receive any financial compensation for my time my reward comes from the thankfulness I have in my heart for God helping me get away from drugs and showing me the path to walk down to restore my life. That is also where the title of my ministry – Pathway Outreach Ministries – comes from.

My job is to bring grieving people comfort and hope. I listen to them, and I explain what happened to me and what the mercy and grace of God did for me. I introduce others to Christ and the rest is up to God. My dream is for every homes person to feel the joyful and confident expectation that they will not be homeless for the rest of their lives. God is on their side, he’s their greatest cheerleader, and what they do does matter and can make a difference.

If you would like to donate to Pathway Outreach Ministries, please contact me at paulaheilbrun@hotmail.com.