Nobody Loves You When You Are Down And Out

Sure, most of us have heard of the old blues song. It talks about losing everything dear, "hitting bottom", and worst of all being completely alone. Ever been there? The Gospel of John talks about a woman "caught in the very act of adultery" and being dragged through the streets before the holiest person who ever lived. I think she pretty much had hit bottom. Of course people were probably saying "she is getting what she deserved", "it's her own fault" "she brought it upon herself" etc. etc. Some people who have "hit bottom" have brought it upon themselves, they have deserved it. 

 But amazingly enough, during Jesus' ministry he made no distinction between those who hit bottom because of their own actions or who hit bottom through no fault of their own. When he prayed for people to be healed , he never inquired as to how they had gotten in that state. One of my favorite movie scenes of all time is in Clint Eastwood's 'Unforgiven'. The Scofield Kid has just killed his first man in cold blood. He tries to ease his conscience by saying, "He had it coming to him". Eastwood says, "We all have it coming to us". He then says, "He deserved it" Eastwood replies, "Deserve has nothing to do with it" In Matthew 25 Jesus says true Christians visit those in prison, clothe the naked, feed the hungry. He makes no distinction between those who arrived at that state through their own actions or through circumstances beyond their control. '

Deserve' has nothing to do with it. Our greatest calling is to reach out to the down and out. At the height of the AIDS epidemic in the US before the AIDS drugs, I used to sit with last stage AIDS patients to give their families or caregivers a break. Many of my conservative friends would talk about how the AIDS sufferers "brought it upon themselves". I was appalled at such a lack of love and compassion. I am so grateful that when we go to God in prayer and ask for his forgiveness, or his help in our time of crisis, he doesn't say, "you have it coming to you". Jesus took our sins upon himself rather than point the finger at us. 

 I have been down and out. I have hit bottom. And I can say, much of it was my own doing. Yet, the hardest thing was the silence of my "friends' There are many people who are hurting. Who are completely alone. Often because of the choices they have made. Do you know anyone like that? They may be completely alone because of sinful, selfish choices. Or maybe through no fault of their own. Sometimes we don't know what to say to someone who is alone, who is hurting, who maybe has just lost their dearest loved one, who has a terminal illness, who lost their job, so we say nothing, we do nothing. 

 

 What are the three greatest words one can say to someone who is "down and out"? It is not "I love you" It is "I'll be there" Just to have someone come and sit with you when you are down and out means more than any pious platitude. People who are down and out know it. If it is their fault, they know it. Do you know someone who has just lost a loved one, who is in prison, who has lost everything, who has been abandoned. If you are a Christian, remember Jesus has always been there when you were down and out. And it didn't matter if it was of your own doing or not. He calls us to follow him. This world is a tough place sometimes. Let us reach out to those who hurt. It doesn't mean we compromise our moral standards. Jesus didn't compromise his when he showed mercy. There is probably someone who needs you to reach out. You don't need to be a great preacher or saint. You just need to show up. And you will be the one who receives the greatest blessing. Peace, Jack