“Normally, People Like You”
The homeless teenager walked right up to St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and got in his face. “Normally, people like you,” he began, addressing the Mayor.
They were both participants in an all-night “Sleep Out” last November. Hosted by Covenant House Missouri, the event began three years ago to raise awareness as well as money.
Civic leaders and corporate executives do exactly what the name says and “Sleep Out” on Covenant House’s parking lot. Cardboard is their bed, their roof, their shelter.
Two-thousand children and youth face that reality every night in St. Louis.
How many do we have here in Effingham? Let’s listen again: “Normally, people like you don’t notice people like me.”
Somewhere in the mix of power players and scared kids on that parking lot someone said, When I was homeless, you took me in. Jesus says that in Matthew 25:35.
“Normally, people like you don’t notice people like me.” Before the adult could respond, the homeless teenager then said to Mayor Slay, “Thank you for being here tonight.”
Let’s notice. That’s a good start.
joescheets 
Excellent for the youth!!! I was distressed recently that the “provider of emergency shelters” refused to open the center during the recent snows and below freezing temperatures at night. The answer to the press was that the daytime temperature had to be 20 degrees are below for (I forget how many) days in a row! And, this winter the designated daytime temperature will be more difficult. I forget who said it, but a society is judged by the way they treat the poor and the least. Not just society, but those of us who call ourselves Christians.
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