When I led diversity trainings, I always said that we ALL come to the table with some bias. We judge. We ALL judge. I do not like that but I know it to be true so, like anything I want to change, the first step is self awareness. The first step is to catch myself when I AM judging and hold myself accountable.

NOAH (Networking, Organizing, Advocating for the Homeless) where we go each Monday in downtown Detroit is a grand place to judge. As one of the clients said, "Why go to the zoo and pay when I can sit here for free each day."

Yep.

But, that is true ANYWHERE that there are people;  it's just dressed better in some places.  After almost 70 years of living and 50 years of ministry, I honestly believe this to be true because I have LIVED it.

BUT, most of us do not judge those who dress better as harshly as those who don't.  We are not nearly as offended by the guy/gal making millions who is using OUR system to protect his/her money so as to make MORE money....

....BUT, the guy/gal at the corner with the cardboard sign asking for money offends us.

Why?

Seriously, WHY?

Seems a good question for each of us to ponder.

My wish would be that IF we are offended by the corner guy, we also be offended by the other guy. Judge both or neither. Hold both accountable or neither.

Because there ARE folk on the corner abusing the system but there are folk in mansions doing the same BIG TIME!

WHY do we allow for some what we do not for others?

Just throwing it out there!

Of course, there are folk in mansions using their money for good JUST AS there are folk from NOAH using their money for good.

That is actually what led me to this blog.

One lady brought back some of the things from her hygiene kit to give to me to give to someone else as she had received from another place and felt she did not need 2 bars of soap, etc.

One man was anxiously awaiting his check so he could use $300 to go down with his church to help with the hurricane victims.

BUT, this week's story touched me most profoundly.

A young woman came and asked if we had any feminine pads for her. I could find NONE (I bought some to take with me tomorrow). She understood just as she understood that there were no more hygiene kits (we do 16/week and they go FAST) but was gracious as she knew she was late. I was able, by the way, to give her the soap that the other lady returned.

Anyway, she then asked Joe for her mail and was told it was in back and she would have to sign for it.  I went to get it for her and watched as she opened.

It was a check she didn't know she was getting. The COMPLETE GRATITUDE and UTTER JOY as she literally bounced up and down and THANKED GOD was something HOLY to behold.

Indeed, we shared a holy hug!

And then she said, "I had $6 in my pocket when I came in and I am gonna' go find someone who needs this $6 more than me right now because God blessed me today so I gotta' bless someone else."

And off she went.

To pass on her $6.

She was probably headed to someone with a cardboard sign and she honestly wasn't dressed too well.

Just. Clothed. In. GRACE.