[ perspective ]

   You know those moments when you say just a word or a few words, and the minute they come out, you already see the reaction and consequences coming?

   I found myself in one of those incidences today.

   I managed to sit at a table with a Danish-speaking homeless man between myself and my other two friends, attempting to strike up a conversation. Between the drukenly slurred speech and trying my very best to pick up on as much Danish as possible, I quickly lost track of the way the conversation was going. It went from small talk to him asking how it's going in Danish. I replied "Jeg har det godt" [or I'm good], and asked him the same. Apparently he didn't hear this, but only heard me asking him how he was doing. And then he randomly started getting upset about this.


   Ironically, just before I asked him, I honestly wondered if that was even a good question to ask some people. Because, especially here in Denmark, it's one of those questions that you throw out there without really caring how the other person is actually doing. It's a formality, not an connection. You don't expect anything from it, and chances are, the person probably doesn't really want to hear how you're really doing. And honestly, when you ask someone that lives on the street with probably no money and not the best outlook on life, what do you expect to hear?

   I make it a point to never say it without meaning it, so his reaction caught me off guard.

   He started talking about why I even asked him that. That I only asked because I only wanted him to ask me how I was doing, so it was about me. And I replied that wasn't true, that I wouldn't ask if I didn't actually care. At this point we had switched to English because he found out it was easier for me. [Plus it was getting hard for me to keep up.]

   He went on and on about me not actually caring and that it was pointless and a waste of time and that I was taking away his energy. Blah blah. I did my best to try and convince him that I did actually care and there was a point behind it. And then he said something that really hit me to the core.

   He said, "You sit there and ask me how it's going, and if I say I have it well, then you say Hallelujah, and if I don't, then you say f*ck you. So f*ck you. What can you do if I don't have it well, if I don't have money."

   And there was so much more behind it, really. I know that. Especially looking back at it now. There was some weird demonic stuff behind all this. He kept talking about him being a wizard and me taking away his energy and all this nonsense.

   At this point, Kamilla enters the conversation, coming to my rescue, because she could definitely see the attack on  me. It was coming to the point where he was talking about taking us outside and beating us up. Yeah, he was pretty P.O.ed.

    But the point is, the rest of the night, after he got up and walked away finally, that bit has been repeating in my head. It shook me up.

   He has a point. What good are my good intentions? I kept telling him that even though I couldn't change his position, I could still sit there and talk to him. And obviously he didn't give a crap about that, especially after he was all worked up.

   But really. What do we have to offer to these people. Walking around with the truth and holding this salvation that they have the chance to accept -- why would they care?

   Imagine being passed up by people continuously day in and day out. People that won't even bother to treat you like a human being. You're nothing more than a sidewalk ornament.

   And then hearing some girl come up to you and ask how you're doing, not even having the power to change anything. It's ridiculous, in some way.

   That being said, these are the thoughts going through my head. I know going there made a difference tonight.

   I know the small group of us, going to the park to hang out with the weekend party animals and stoned and drunk teens and others with a guitar and our voices made a difference. I know some of them listened. And more importantly, they saw we cared about them, and took the time to spend time with them. From singing "How great is our God", to Oasis, "Wonderwall", to Guns N' Roses, "Knockin' on Heavens door" -- we had a good time.

   But maybe we need to do more than just having good intentions all the time. I know how easy it is to feel bad for something or someone, and yet do nothing about it.

   My team and I are going to Athens, Greece to help out at a Mercy Center that targets the homeless, drug addicts, prostitutes, etc. We're going to be out in the streets, serving food and drinks, and more importantly, hope.

   And just be there to love them. Honestly. I think that's something anyone can use.

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   On a more practical note, my team is still in need of funds for the outreach. We are leaving on the 31st, and any amount would be a huge help. Plus the prayer support will count immensely.

   Please email me via the email in my contact page if you're interested in supporting us.

   And check out the video below for more!

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvnl6kM3tSk&feature=youtu.be