The Spirit of Compassion

He came to the door with a smile on his face.  I knew the smile, though we’d seen him without it.  The green coat, wire framed glasses, grizzled hair, and slight stoop: they were all familiar.  I expected another long conversation about how someone at the Mission had been staring at him or how he felt his personal space invaded.  It’s hard not to have your personal space invaded when you share a “dorm room” with 43 other men.

I was wrong.  He strode purposefully over to the receptionist, a volunteer who didn’t recognize him, and pulled out a battered wallet.  “I got my own place,” he said, smile beaming, “and I want to give back to the Mission.”

Then he pulled out a twenty dollar bill.

That money was dear to him.  An older man, recently homeless and alone.  A handful of change, maybe even a few dollars would have been more than expected.  We don’t expect any payment for services we provide.  Shelter, food, clothing: everything we do is to help others, to show them the love of Christ.  It’s a gift.

Now he was giving back.  His is not an unusual story, the one in thousands who shows gratitude in a tangible way for the love and care he received while a guest of the Mission.  In talking with our guests, we discover time and time again that those with almost nothing to give still make the effort to help someone else who is “worse off” than they are.

They’ve learned that spirit of compassion from you.  The City Rescue Mission of Lansing operates solely on faith; staff and guests are well aware that, when there is a need, God will provide.  They come in from the cold and recognize that the warmth doesn’t come from the utility company; it comes from your gifts.  The lights that shine out into the  dark night, the water to shower and shave, the shampoo to clean their hair, the food on their plates: all are gifts of love.

In the first six months of this year, we’d already fed 1,200 more people than in all of 2008.  The number of those needing shelter and compassion continues to rise, and your gifts are needed more than ever, because their impact is even greater.  You provide hope and peace to so many men, women, and children throughout the capital area.  Thank you for helping us help others!

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