I know that we're not supposed to have "favorites" but sometimes its just not possible. Recently we had a volunteer from Tulsa named "Clifton". He was really just passing through and needed a bus ticket back Tulsa. He agreed to volunteer at Shared Blessings a couple of days and we would take care of his bus ticket. Clifton was staying at The Good Samaritan Outreach, which is McAlester's newly opened men's shelter.
For the next two mornings, Clifton would get up early and walk to Shared Blessings from downtown and go to work. He was a hard worker as he brought in donations off our dock. Clifton didn't complain. He didn't spend the day trying to manipulate us for anything. He just worked. At lunch time, we would all go out to eat and Clifton was grateful. I won't quickly forget that first day at lunch as we arrived at the local restaurant. There was 3 of us and Clifton. As we got our food and began to sit down, Clifton walked over to a separate table and sat down by himself. It broke my heart as I realized that Clifton felt so "beat down" by the world that he didn't think he could even sit with us.
I hope he learned by the end of the 2nd day that he had someone he could turn to who cared about him. We showered him with encouragement and got him packed up with a backpack full of snacks and a Bible for his journey to Tulsa. Clifton told me that he had some distant relatives in Tulsa but I had a hunch that he had nowhere to stay in Tulsa either. My bet was when he arrived in Tulsa, his first stop was probably John 3:16 (Homeless Shelter).
Clifton was just a good guy. I don't really know his story. I could probably guess that his life is full of abandonment, loneliness & guilt. He has undoubtedly made some poor choices ... which of us haven't? But I can tell you this, Clifton's life has just as much value to God as mine and yours. It is easy sometimes to see the "down and out" as different. It's even easier to see them as completely responsible for their predicament, which lets us off the hook.
Yes, we are all responsible for our own actions in life. But understanding that truth should make me less concerned about judging Clifton's predicament (and those like him) and more concerned about my response to those in need. I will be held responsible for my action or lack thereof just as much.
I hope I don't forget Clifton. God taught me something in those two days. That's why he was one of my favorite volunteers.
