In his pain and suffering Job says that God pays no attention to the prayers of those pushed off the road of life, those denied the opportunity to better their life. He says in Job 24 that the prayers of those ravaged by the wicked go unheard.
Have you walked in downtown Portland in the Burnside Bridge area? Do you believe those people are there by their own choice? Do you think that somehow you are dearer to God than they are? Where would they be if they had had your opportunities and known the people you have known? Are you so sure what you would do if you were in their place without the history you're having now? If you had a steady and continuous diet of the dark side of life would you still prevail?
Some Portlanders don't especially care for all the rain, but it makes Portland so beautiful! Some, like me, love the rain, but what if it rained every day? What if I never saw the sun break through the clouds? What if every day were only dark clouds disappearing in the night, because the night was darker and colder?
If you believe in the Bible than you eagerly anticipate the great wedding feast of the Lord, but where does the Lord go seeking God's guests? Is it not to the Burnside Bridge areas all around the world?
I sometimes give in to pity parties despite knowing better. Despair and hopelessness are powerful forces. Some say they are evil spirits. Whatever you want to call despair and hopelessness, wherever you want to say they come from, who would not agree they are powerful in their ability to undermine our relationship with God, as well as our relationships with one another? They numb and incapacitate the desire to function and move forward. Sometimes I need a word of encouragement; sometimes I need a kick in the butt. I have a wife and friends who can do that. What about those who have no one to take an interest in their plight?
You say you are not called to be a pastor or a missionary and it isn't your fault those people are there. To some degree you are right, but that does not mean we are not all called to act. Most of us were not called to build great churches. All of us are called to reach out to someone.
Maybe it is someone you work with, live near, have coffee with, ride the bus with, go to school with or someone you know that needs a job. We all know someone who might be wavering in front of the great slide into darkness. Whether or not you believe in God, God may have placed you or me between them and a path that leads to sorrow.
Job is wrong. God answers prayer, but what if the answer is me? What if the answer is you? Who have we helped today?
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