Maya picked me up in Market Street. We had both gone to church earlier that morning, Maya to a church near her school and I to my church here where we live. After church my dad, sister's boyfriend, and I went to eat at Uni Sushi which is a sushi restaurant that is in the overpriced, ritzy but charming part of our town named Market Street. It's a place where on any given day you see at least 30 BMWs, a few Porches, no lack of Mercedes, plenty of Range Rovers, and, more often than not, a Ferrari, Maserati, and/or Lamborghini. Not to mention there is currently construction underway to open our very own Tiffany & Co. So needless to say it's a happening place in a town where there is no lack of cash flow.
When Maya picked me up we discussed how, unlike the weeks before, we didn't have to worry about being underdressed. Rather, we were worried about being overdressed in jeans and sneakers because this Sunday we were going to Church Under the Bridge, a homeless church that meets under Interstate 45. Yes, that is right, I said it meets under I-45.
I had first heard about Church Under the Bridge in a class called Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. Naturally I was curious, but I could never figure who would be curious enough to join me in visiting with me. Enter Maya!
As we continued down the interstate towards downtown we each to our turn complaining about how we have always felt that we are the poor people in The Woodlands. We griped about the fact that we each drove the crappy cars to school while other kids showed up on their 16th birthday with their new 3-series, G35, or whatever "straight off the car dealership lot" car their daddy had surprised them with. We each agreed that we felt we had to explain to people who lived outside "The Bubble", The Woodlands that is, that we weren't "those" kids.
The irony of that conversation hit me shortly after we had arrived to our destination, sat in the back row behind a number of homeless people, and then I realized that we were sitting under I-45. These people had come to the church to hear from the Word of God, maybe find temporary shelter from the sun, and maybe even to receive a free meal. Some seemed to be paying attention to the trumpeter who played along to a gospel song. Some sat in the background and conversed with others who slowly trickled in. It was hard to not pay attention to the service but instead observe those around me.
There was the man who was wiping the sweat off his brow with a piece of newspaper and reading another piece at the same time; the woman sitting away behind the preacher selling drugs to the guy in the yellow shirt (yes, we saw a drug deal go down); the few tricklers coming in in what I assume was their "Sunday best" of a sloppily tucked in button up, dusty slacks, and an off-centered pair of suspenders; and the man and woman who truly seemed to be enjoying their time openly worshipping God. They all were there, seemingly happy regardless of their circumstances and here we were with our nice clothes, iPhones in our pockets, in a new car, coming from a very affluent community complaining about our cushiony lives!
During the sermon the preacher spoke about how when we consume our time with thoughts of money and possessions, with thoughts of how good we had it in the past (for those that were present and lacking sufficient funds for their needs), and things like drinking alcohol and watching porn then those things become what we worship. We are guilty of those things everyday. It is hard to deny our human desires for things of this world when what we should be concerned with is being the creation who worships the Creator so that the stones need not cry out (Luke 19:37-40).
Overall, the experience was awesome and we both agreed that that would not be the last time we visited and hopefully one of y'all will be interested in joining and maybe staying to help serve lunch after. We hope that this will make y'all think about how grateful we should be for what we do have. I know it is something I struggle with, so if y'all catch me being materialistic or ungrateful just slap me around a little, haha just kidding!!! Thanks for keeping up with us!
Sunday Vagabond Lauren
Lauren! I am so proud of what you are doing. This is a great post and a great message! We can never be reminded too many times to not compare our selves to those around us. We must be thankful for what we have, even if we see it as small for those around us. Worshipping our Jesus is all that matters! Love you!
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