Hope for the hopeless (my friend Clarence).

I had an opportunity this morning to do a Laundry Love Project in Tampa, Fl.  It has become very normal at these projects to encounter ordinary people that have lived through extraordinary circumstances. 


Ive met people that have lived in extreme cases of poverty, been in gangs, the military, people who have traveled the world, graduated from a prestigious university, single moms, single dads, people in two parent house holds with five kids, households with no kids, drug addicts, homeless, Christians, atheists, etc. The list of the different people and their circumstances could go on forever.


But one common theme has existed no matter who the person is or what they have been through: Their story is important and they are very loved by God.


I met a man at the project today named Clarence. Clarence is 44, homeless, and has traveled the world. He has been to more places than most people will ever go in their lifetime, and he is also a highly skilled worker who has had great trouble finding employment due to some poor choices in his past.


I talked with Clarence for an hour. He kept reminding me over and over how appreciative he was of the laundry love project. He said what most people don't understand is that clean clothes can cost between 50-100 a month (10 bucks for 1 load, a few times a month), and that not heaving clean clothes means no job interviews and people don't want to be around you very often. 


Clarence hadn't been able to wash his clothes for 3 weeks until today.


Clarence confided in me that faith in God is what gets him through each day. He expressed some hopelessness for the future and I encouraged him to make the most of however much time he was given by loving people as best he could. He said: "that's exactly what y'all are doing."


I share his story because it's a reminder that what's at stake is not just clean laundry, a meal, or shelter. It's all of those things, it's genuine compassion, it's showing someone that they matter. 


Because of a stinkin load of laundry, God instilled hope in Clarence, God reminded him that he cared about Clarence and his story and that Clarence has a future.


Friends, I beg of you, keep your eyes open and your heart near to the Father. I don't want you or I to miss a single opportunity to give someone hope and show them that they matter.