They had to stop and watch. Most of the time when we cruise through skid row we can look away from the hurting, the homeless the hopeless. Sunday night, the light would change and limo drivers had to stop before they could gain approval to enter the closed section of Main St. Stuck at our corner, coming from the east on 3rd and the south on Main, our line was the only thing to look at. We see so many films being shot - but this was a HUGE production. It was hard not to look at the RR limos with paper plates, the dozens and dozens of jet black SUV's with tinted windows, not to mention all the fancy cars. The people in our line ignored them. The most famous names in the music industry were just feet away and our line waited anxiously for a jacket, an orange, a hot plate of food. I thought for sure someone would roll down their window, maybe step out to say "hi." No such luck. I couldn't help but wonder if we were spoiling their evening. The guys acted a little bitter. When we prayed. I prayed that God would bless their party and thanked God for all great music the industry gives us. Just the same, a simple and spontaneous word of encouragement in the night would have lifted everyones spirits. Suddenly, as we were ignored just as the homeless are ignored day in and day out, it was easy to see how much it must hurt to be treated as if your not even there, day in and day out. My friend with his binoculars was embarrassed to point them toward the crowd of well dressed party goers. I couldn't help but wonder how God looked down on the whole scene.

Awards in Heaven. Someday there'll be an awards ceremony and celebration to put the biggest Grammy bash to shame. It'll take place in Heaven and Jodi and Evelyn will be getting "stars in their crowns" that will be eternal. These two women cook for, serve and then clean up after hundreds of "the least of these" each month as if they're serving Jesus. Some Sunday nights are small groups, like the last couple of weeks where Super Bowls and Grammy parties pull even the homeless away. Other nights, when life gets hard and people are hungry, they try to stretch the same meal to cover hundreds of waiting men and women. They're not rich and famous. No one heralds their loving service on international tv. But God knows and God sees- and God's planning a party for the entire Kingdom. I think these two will be somewhere in the leading "winners" in eternity. None of our workers minded not being invited to party on "our turf." Well- I think it would have been fun to go- but I wouldn't have missed the appointment God gave us to serve the wonderful people waiting on us.

Everybody longs to be treated with respect. I can't begin to imagine how great it felt for all the winners last night - first the Grammy - then the big parties, blocking central LA - all in their honor. Must have been great. Just being so close to it was fun. This morning the sidewalks have been surrendered back to the homeless. Last night, where the soles of the rich and famous trod, the people from our line waited to find rest for their tired bodies and weary souls, reclaiming the sidewalk as a place to rest. I'm quite certain one of the reasons people continue to return to our simple street ministry, in the middle of the night, is because we long to treat them with the respect they deserve. We don't want to drive by and pretend they're intruding on our evening. We want them to know that they're important to God. That they matter to us. That in a world where so much wealth is wasted on that which comes and goes in an evening, people are waiting, in poverty, just at the edge of our luxury, hoping only that we'll take the time stop and get to know one another, share a meal, take the time to get to know one another and make friends. Last night a friend I hadn't seen in line since 1992 came through with a "guest." He regaled me with stories of the "old days." At our old spot. Back when the pope visited St. Vibiana's and slept there. We laughed about how times have changed. Quietly, I praised God for giving me so much time in the heart of the city- so many good people to serve - and for the luxury that's gentrifed skid row. Hopefully, as people live in the midst of the hopelessness, they'll open their windows and hearts to the homeless and begin to love them and share the blessings God's so richly given them with those still in such desperate need. Or at least open their closet and share a jacket. I know the people on the street could use the encouragement- now, more than ever.

for changing lives, Eric

email: eric@centralcommunity.com

phone: 1-951-689-5806

web: http://www.centralcommunity.com