A couple of nights ago when I was at the beach having a meal with some of the homeless people that we feed on Sunday nights when a surfer came up to me. At first I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. Some people are resentful of the fact that homeless people use the beach area.
He introduced himself to me and then asked if we were Christians. I said, “Yes we were.”
He replied, “I really hate God but I love what you guys are doing.”
The conversation continued with him confessing that at one point he had a faith but had decided not to follow it further. But, he recognised that there is an innate goodness in looking after those in society who are less well off than ourselves. I know that the people we feed are not perfect and that handouts are never the real answer. Yet we need to start somewhere. At least over a meal you can begin a conversation. Sermons don’t work for these people.
Even though I know that many people don’t like what I do it was a nice to be validated by someone who had their conscience pricked.