Cold Night Shelter

I am proud of my community. Last year, when the people of Tallahassee discovered their neighbors were sleeping outdoors in freezing temperatures they responded by demanding a cold night shelter.  The issue quickly became a political hot potato and by the end of January 2010 a cold night shelter was opened.

I participated in the earliest version of our community's response by helping with transportation.  I continued my outreach schedule during the day and gave a few extra hours to driving people from downtown.  I left the coordination and implementation to our executive director and local politicians.  The shelter functioned, but everyone agreed a better plan was needed for the winter of 2011.  The Homeless Coalition was tasked with coming up with the answer.  After several proposals a plan was approved.  The only thing the new cold night shelter was missing was a manager.

In July, as we began developing Connections, the Cold Night Shelter (CNS) was listed as a potential need to be filled.  We thought we would be established by the time the coldest days hit and we could save the day.  God's plan was different.  The first cold days arrived earlier than expected and with them enough political pressure to crush a small emerging church with grand ideas.

God's plan called for sacrifice and humbleness not grand gestures and fame.  God asked me to step forward to manage the CNS.  We operated two nights last week and expect to operate several nights next week.  My name does not appear in headlines.  I do not get asked for interviews.  I do not control when the shelter is open.  I am simply there to serve humble and grateful people from 7 to 7.  I am confident mountains will move.

I am familiar with this plan.  It is how God has shaped me over the last five years.  When I was sent into the community as a "Missionary to Tallahassee" it wasn't a glamorous assignment, it was a call to become a servant.  Step by step I was asked to lay down my pride and selfish ambitions and learn to serve and obey.  Through this process God's influence has grown and Connections was birthed.  It seems fitting Connections early days of ministry are similar to my own.  It is counter intuitive, counter to the way our world thinks, but servanthood is how God makes the greatest impact.  Jesus came not wrapped in glory and splendor but in swaddling cloths. 

My job is simple.  Greet those I serve with compassion, answer their needs the best I can, and watchover them while they rest.  It sounds like shepherd training.  It sounds like God's version of leadership training.  I am blessed. 

 ¹ And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ³ So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. ⁶ So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
⁸ Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
(Luke 2:1-12, New King James Version)

 ¹ Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
² And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, ³ Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, ⁴ rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. ⁵ After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. ⁶ Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”
⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
⁸ Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
⁹ Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” ¹¹ For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
¹² So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? ¹³ You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. ¹⁴ If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶ Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:1-17, New King James Version)

 ⁶ When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, "Here he is! God's anointed!"
 ⁷ But God told Samuel, "Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature. I've already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart."
 ⁸ Jesse then called up Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. Samuel said, "This man isn't God's choice either."
 ⁹ Next Jesse presented Shammah. Samuel said, "No, this man isn't either."
 ¹⁰ Jesse presented his seven sons to Samuel. Samuel was blunt with Jesse, "God hasn't chosen any of these."
 ¹¹ Then he asked Jesse, "Is this it? Are there no more sons?"
    "Well, yes, there's the runt. But he's out tending the sheep."
    Samuel ordered Jesse, "Go get him. We're not moving from this spot until he's here."
 ¹² Jesse sent for him. He was brought in, the very picture of health— bright-eyed, good-looking.
    God said, "Up on your feet! Anoint him! This is the one." (1 Samuel 16:6-12, The Message)