"Will Take Insults for Money"

Last Saturday, the preacher at my SF church talked about speaking life into people.  Speaking prophetically to people.  This isn't any big hairy-headed deal as my Tree of Life pastor Paul Bell would say...It just means listening to hear how God sees someone...what His love looks like for that person...how He wants to lift up and affirm that person....and telling them).

I tucked this in my brain.  Pulling it out occasionally to think on.  Then, I was reading about something called Validation Therapy. It's a way to "enter the inner world" of an elderly person with dementia. Not asking them to enter "our" reality, but accepting theirs. This amazing approach encourages touch, eye contact, singing, and smiling. Eyes that say "I see you."  Words that say, "I know you're there. You matter to me."

One bible verse says "speak words that build up and do not tear down, that you might be a source of grace (unearned love and favor) to the hearer."  Ephesians 4:29.

so, more stuff rattling around in my brain.  What does it mean to "validate" someone with schizophrenia whose speech makes no sense? To "enter the inner world" of a woman here in the Tenderloin who tries to use a little metal disc to reflect sunlight at passing cars to distract "them" so they won't be able to see her and do "bad things they do" to her. 

I tried to be more conscious of listening. Of speaking affirming words.

Then, while trolling the internet in search of more Validation Therapy videos I find this glorious, creative testimony to kindness and "words that build up."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao      (if this link doesn't work, search "Validation - Youtube and you'll find it)

I was undone!  (and now I can't stop the italics thing from happening.  Oh well...)

On a city walk yesterday to go hang out and read my Kindle in the park, I passed a homeless man carrying a sign "Will Take Insults for Money"   I passed by.  Got about 10 steps when Holy Spirit said, "NO.  He will not. Turn around."

So, I turned around.  The guy was in pretty bad shape. Smelled awful. Dirty. Ragged. He was smiling but high.  I walked up to him. "I don't have any insults. God wants you to know He loves you. He sees you and loves you. You are precious to Him.  He's here and he's not mad at you. In fact, he thinks you're pretty creative.  You found a creative way to make money.  But, you are worth so much more than insults. You are worth His love."  The man nodded and said, "I know."  I said.  "Good.  He wants you to know that. He doesn't want insults for you...He wants you to hear that He loves you. You are important to him. Precious to Him.  He sees you."

I smiled and began to walk away. He asked for money - and I don't give money to people on the streets....crack cocaine can be purchased for a dollar.  I had given him what I really "own" anyway.

I'm having all kinds of feelings about this latest venture into God's heart.  I like to solve problems. To be honest and "get it all out on the table."  Yet, God wants to validate "the least among you."  To build up people trying to hold life together with shaky, battered, fragmented 2x4s holding up their emotional and spiritual selves.  

What if I ignore the "obvious" and, instead, validate. Speak life.    
Last night I had one of those random thoughts....like a bird flying over your head and Zing...away again....What if the man had a sign that said, "Hear great things about yourself, 25 cents" ?   What if he discovered, deep inside, that God really does love and cherish him? That he really is precious to the God of the Universe?  And, what if he could trade THAT for money instead?