Psalm 40:17 “But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay.”
In August of this year we remembered the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. That storm devastated many of the Gulf States. New Orleans was hit hard after the levees could not hold back the rising waters. Many lives were lost. There is a little known memorial that was created for 86 bodies who were either never identified or no one ever came to claim them. This memorial almost did not happen. It became a reality on the third anniversary of Katrina because of the perseverance of many people including the city’s funeral directors and the coroner. They felt the need to have something represent these people and the lives they lived. They cared when it appeared no one else did.
When I heard this story my heart broke for these people. Did they have no one in their lives that cared for them? Had their lives been filled with heartache and bitterness or had no one taken the time to reach out? Max Lucado writes that as Christians we are called to get to know the story behind the door. Did anyone ever take the time to knock on their door? Maybe someone did knock but was denied access in. We sometimes have our hearts broken so deeply that the door has been slammed shut and no amount of knocking will allow us to reconnect. I pray that these people knew that there was a God who loved them through all the hurt and pain that was afflicted on them. He also loved them even if they were the ones who slammed the door shut. God did not create us to live our lives alone. Is there someone in your world who appears to have bolted the door to their heart slammed shut? Maybe God has them in your world for you to knock on that door and get to know their story. Who knows, you just might become their circle of friend, the person who will represent the life they lived when no one else seemed to care.
Lord, when we are poor and needy You send us your love often through others. Give us the courage to knock on those doors that are shut. If we have shut our doors to keep others out, may we have the courage to once again let others enter. Either way we need Your courage.
– Michele
