I'm Insulated

2008 May 28

by Tyler

Meet Arnie.

Arnie is from East Portland. Less than a year ago Arnie lived in a van in Portland selling and using meth.

Thanks to JOIN and Sunset Pres, Arnie is trying to put his life back together.

Today Arnie and I hung out all afternoon. We had a video shoot at the church with him today, and he doesn’t have a car so I helped him get there and back.

Arnie showed me that I live an insulated life. I come in contact with people who have it all together, who pay their bills, and are some of the richest people in the world. I don’t come in contact with the Arnie’s of the world. I do a lot to avoid them.

I asked Arnie one question. Should Christians care for the poor and needy? His answer surprised me.

He said yes, but that it wasn’t about providing food or giving money. Truly caring is showing RESPECT. Even he, as he now has a home, has a hard time doing this. And I know that I have a hard time giving and showing respect to those who are deemed lower than me by society. Thanks Arnie, I am challenged.

Be sure to come Sunday to hear Arnie’s story during the service.

Filed under: the rest... Tags: Sunset

http://visualcoma.com rlh27

The layers of society are very interesting. I been around and hung out with a lot of people that seem to be in the same type of place in life as Arnie, but none of them said respect. I like that.

It makes me wonder if I have been respectful in the past or not.
http://www.mattsingley.com Matt

I’m insulated too. Very much so. I’m pretty sure that Christ hasn’t called me to get as safe and insulated as possible…I had better work on this. Thanks for the post: short, sweet and it gives me A LOT to think about.
Debbie Stewart

Tyler,
Thanks for this post and for your part in this bigger story. I met Arnie through Sunset’s Cup of Joy ministry (ministry to homeless). I am looking forward to this Sunday as his story is told to a wider group of people as an example of how God is moving within our community. I love his answer—doesn’t that about sum up what all of us want? Respect—being treated with dignity simply b/c we are all created in His image, regardless of where life’s circumstances have placed us? Isn’t that what Jesus did?
Debbie Stewart
http://www.jenniclayville.com Jenni Clayville

Awesome, AWESOME post, Ty!!!
http://janetfraser.blogspot.com/ Janet Fraser

thanks Tyler.
Jos

What a great answer. That’s why I’m skeptical about “one-hit-wonders” serving opportunities… People want and need respect, and that’s something that only happens over time and by building relationships.

Thanks for sharing and being so honest.
http://manofdepravity.com Tyler

I totally agree. What I would say as a caveat is that once is better than never, and something always has to begin somewhere.