Harrods and the Homeless
Today we visited the Natural History Museum here in London. It has the most amazing dinosaur collection.
Afterwards we walked to Knightsbridge to visit Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Both are a bit overwhelming to be honest though fun too in a way. When we came back ‘home’ we made pancakes with fresh fruit and ice-cream and then I collapsed into a hot bath to relax my aching muscles. It was lovely.
We’re staying at our friends’ home in Vauxhall/Lambeth and it’s lovely to be here for a zillion different reasons one of which it gives me a new and fresh perspective on life. There are a lot of homeless in this part of London. When I first visited here back in November I was a bit shocked to see men and women of all ages sleeping outside (usually on a piece of cardboard under one of the railway arches here) and it broke my heart.
When in my 20s I got involved in politics because I saw poverty (in Mexico) like I’d never seen it before and I couldn’t equate that with my picture of God. Years later I realised that politics wasn’t the answer and moved closer to God and the Church again … and today I continue that pilgrimage to His heart. No disrespect meant here but I’m slowly coming to the conclusion that all too often in the west we play church rather than become church … and that’s why being here in London (and meeting Christians from the Lambeth -Vauxhall Parish) has been refreshingly good for me! Last Sunday the Methodist minister preached a sermon that Bono would have approved on. Better than that the Christians here are learning to live out that message.
tonight was a brilliant example of that. The local church of St Peters hosts Robes every Monday. Homeless guests can come in for the evening. They get a bed for the night (everything is made ready for them – comfortable blow up mattress and covers, towel etc.) and a super meal cooked by a volunteer as well as breakfast on Tuesday morning. Tonight I was privileged to help out at Robes. I stuffed duvets into covers, and made beds and had a little girl (aged about 5-6) as my assistant. Best of all was the opportunity to sit down and share the meal with the homeless guys. Many are from Poland and Latvia, but there were a few English guys too.
Folks this is what being a Christian is all about. Doing out bit to make poverty history, and to challenge injustice where we find it … yes here on our back doorstep.
I’ll go back to Finland changed and no, not because I shopped in Harrods today either!
February 23rd, 2010 at 4:23 am
It is always so refreshing to hear of a church being the church.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:52 am
Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness operated a similar system to Robes, initially for a short period over Christmas 2008, then for several months in 2009/10. It has been taken up by this year’s Mayor of Kingston as one of the charities which he supports during his year in office, and we are hoping to build something more permanent. We also have a very active team of Street Pastors who walk the streets of central Kingston (-upon-Thames) overnight at weekends helping wherever needed – there is a high incidence of drinking and drug-related problems in the town centre, especially among young people.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:56 am
What an exciting journey you’re on, friend.