Extreme Weather Ain’t No Joke

Weather like today’s ain’t no joke! 
It's brutal.
It's deadly.

But what about those experiencing homelessness?

How do they escape it’s deadly grip when it’s more likely to grasp them with a vicelike tenacity? 

They announce, “don’t go outside!” 

They announce, “check on your neighbors, especially if they’re old or sick!” 

They announce, “if you have to go outside, don’t linger!”

But how do you do that if you’re experiencing homelessness? 

How can they obey these rules when society keeps shutting them out, shoving them around, and pushing them down? 

It’s so frigidly oppressive, they’ve shut down schools.

It’s so detrimentally risky, many businesses are closed.

It’s so fatalistically brutal, many workers are staying home in bed. 

But what about our friends experiencing homelessness? 

How will they escape this brutal wave of frigidly oppressive weather swooping down on them? 

The threat of frostbite is real. 

As is hypothermia
...and even freezing to death.

Walking to a shelter 
Waiting for the train

Living in a tent
can be...

Deadly!

Did you realize that as the city closes down, those working in homeless shelters increase their workloads and stresses?

Did you realize that as those in charge cry “be careful”, there are those who gotta venture out and take risks?

Did you realize that extreme weather isn’t just an aggravation or nuisance for them, but a merciless deadly force?

It’s a daunting reality to know that the fate of so many lives can lay in our fragile weak hands!
It's a heavy weight that can feel oppressive and overwhelming.

It’s a lingering reminder that sits in the forefront of our minds.

Tonight, in our men’s shelter, we have an 86-year-old veteran, an 84-year-old legally blind man, and a 77-year-old veteran. They walk with canes and fragile care. On top of that, we have a bunch of guys who are over 60 and then some younger dudes who’ve had strokes and other debilitating conditions. All this increases the vulnerability of an already very vulnerable people, especially in the midst of a polar vortex! 

Our day center is about one mile’s walk from the Church where the men sleep every night! Normally, the guys have to make that journey twice a day! On a calm evening, it’s a nice walk, but when the weather becomes brutally extreme, that walk can have detrimental and devastating effects. Slippery black ice, awkward snow banks, frigidly hostile wind chills, blizzards, pelting rain and excessive heat in the summer are all no joke to immuno-compromised individuals. In fact, to those who shuffle along at a snail’s pace, such weather could be deadly! 

...and today we are experiencing one of the coldest days Chicago has ever had, with wind chills that are breaking records!

Years ago, a few of us decided to drive the fellas to and from the facilities when the weather gets bad. A couple of hours, painful fingers and toes, and a frozen nose are small sacrifices to make when comes to the lives and well-being of others. Our temporary inconvenience or pain is nothing compared to the permanent damage or the fatal consequences that could be done by walking 8 city blocks in such conditions. Extreme weather ain’t no joke!

Doing this driving is worthwhile, because even though these men are trapped in the depressing viciousness of homelessness, the thankfulness and appreciation heard by all these fellas makes me realize how vital this little service is. The wind and snow isn’t just a mere hassle to them, it is a far greater reality, and in knowing that, they feel the love, they feel noticed, and they know that people do care about them! 

As I drove the guys last night, as I saw desperate people being welcomed in, and as we have made special accommodations for those most vulnerable, I saw and experienced fresh hope, peace, and relief on the faces of those in need. Hope in the reality that people aren't slamming doors in their faces, peace in the reality that people are showing them compassion, and relief in the reality that they don’t have to suffer through the deadly elements. 

Knowing the fragile 86-year-old veteran didn’t have to slip again on the black ice gave me hope. 

Knowing the 84-year-old legally blind man was safely asleep in his bed gave me peace.

Knowing the 77-year-old veteran was warm and his stomach was full gave me relief. 

Sometimes what we do may seem so small and insignificant. But, it’s not! It’s seed that is planted which grows and blossoms. Because people have been willing to offer others a ride, a bed, meals, dry clothes, a place of warmth, and hospitality, fresh hope is kindled! These acts of love and compassion lift the spirits of others, they cry out, “you are loved and significant!” 

“I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.’

“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:34-40‬ ‭MSG‬‬