Laughing in Hard Times

God has a sense of humor, that is for sure. The past few years of my life He has led me down some crazy paths that just don't make sense from an outsiders perspective. Actually...they don't make sense from my perspective either! Let me explain...I never thought in a million years that God would call me to work at a men's homeless shelter. NEVER. Never in a million years! You get that?! NEVER!!!!! And the hilarity of it all hit me today while driving in my car. I was leaving to take a much needed lunch break and I just started cracking up laughing. This could be a sign of craziness, but I like to call it joy in the midst of tribulation.
This week has been extremely difficult due to layoffs at work. Four out of eleven employees were let go last Friday. It is safe to say times are hard, uncertain, painful, scarey...you get the idea. The Christian Center is struggling and the team that is left to try and pick up the pieces is exhausted. That team includes me. I've been running all over the place today dealing with situations I never thought I would have the courage and/or the strength to handle. For example, today while I was covering the front desk for a fellow employee's lunch break, I heard tons of commotion outside on the side walk. I went to see what was happening and there were two ladies verbally smacking each other around for the whole world to hear. While I stood their gawking that them, a man coming in for clothing vouchers walked up and began cussing at the ladies for making a scene in front of a christian organization. (Thanks, buddy. That is really helpful!) Then, some residents began walking out of the dining hall after lunch and began standing around the women. It would have been a classic high school scene if only someone would have yelled fight while people swarmed like bees to see what was happening. I thought to myself, "Holy cow! It is about time I start giving some tough love. Active immediately !"
"Hey you," talking to the guy needing vouchers, "you think cussing these ladies out is helping? If you would like me to help you, you need to come inside these doors and watch your mouth. We don't speak like that around here. And everyone who is a resident, either go back into the dining hall and finish eating or go to your assigned stations. You and I both know you don't need to be getting mixed up with fighting women."
Some of the residents chuckled at the comment, realized I was right in more ways than one, and walked to their stations actually thanking me for the direction. The guy needing vouchers apologized for using fowl language and I helped him get the things he needed after I called the police and to have the ladies removed from property.
So you are probably thinking why this is funny and why I was cracking up in my car? I was laughing because God's desire is to show the world His glory is so evident. What better way to do that than by putting a light-weight, insecure, people pleasing, scared to be assertive and and scared to say "no" girl into an environment full of broken people. Broken people can make some pretty stupid decissions, and broken people require guidance from secure, assertive, loving individuals. I know this because I've been broken and have made plenty of studpid decissions as a result. We all have in one way or another and that is the plain truth.
How funny it is that God has appointed me, at this time, in this place, even in my own brokenness to set people straight. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
We all need compassion and comfort and I am humbled to be able to give that daily here at The Christian Center. We all need direction and a little tough love too. I have no choice but to offer that just as freely if I'm serious about loving.
It is so easy to give credit to Him when we know our own limitations and we can see Him work through it anyway. He is my wisdom. He is my strength. He is my authority. He is my courage. Thank you God for your provision and for choosing the unlikeliest of people to do your work. It is amazing, and at times it just makes me laugh.