Home for ChristmasBrian Heasley - 23 Dec 2012

“It will be great to have you there. Just to prepare and warn you - it is hot, sweaty, cramped, hectic and opposite a sex shop.”

This was written on an invite I received last week to a Christmas meal being held at a homeless drop in situated in Soho London. Many of the people who visit the centre come from different nationalities and backgrounds.

We recognize that homelessness is a problem all over the world and as someone who used to be homeless you would imagine I would feel okay in a situation like this, but over the years life has softened me. They had made me a little nervous of travelling out of my comfort zone and little uneasy at knowing how to behave in a room full of homeless men.

What do you say? How do you act? How do you relate? What do we have in common? Will they just think “Here comes another clean shaven guy in his nice warm coat to salve his conscience at Christmas by hanging out with a few waifs and strays!”

I should not have worried, upon arrival at ‘The Living Room’ in Soho, London, I was handed a glass of non-alcoholic mulled wine and a mince pie, this was before I could even find the friend who had invited me! I was instantly made to feel at home amongst the homeless. Soon I found myself in conversation with a whole range of articulate and interesting men, men who had lived, men who had lost, men who were unlucky, men who just couldn’t cope and men who were trying to cope.

Our Christmas meal was ham, egg and chips before the meal was shared a few words where said about Christ the bringer of hope and a prayer of grace was prayed. I was standing in the corner fighting back the tears as I saw Christ at work in this beautiful community. I didn’t have long to get sentimental and maudlin as I was asked to help dish out the chips. I quickly found myself involved in a human conveyer belt of kindness as between us in a cramped space we worked out a rough distribution system, which ensured that everybody was fed. And that’s what happened ‘everyone was fed.’

I left pretty shortly after that but what stuck in mind was ‘everyone was fed.’ I know those guys had to go back to a hard life on the streets last night, I know they are not perfect and life isn’t one big homeless fairytale. The rough harsh realities of street living take there toll physically, mentally and emotionally, but last night everybody was fed.

Light shone into the darkness, I know it wasn’t a permanent solution but light shone, the light of Christ shone by the friendship extended, the warmth provided and the food given.

Last night was a Christmas meal but it happens every week just as it does in so many other places around our world. The community of Christ extending his hope to others in the simplest of ways, faith in action. James 2:14 - 17 says: 

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.'

I saw faith in action last night, light shining in darkness expressed in the simplicity of ham, egg and chips which ensured everyone was fed.