Loving with no agendas

Working with the street kids is sometimes like a rollercoaster of emotions. Each week their emotional interaction will change from wanting to be close and spend honest time chatting. And then the following week they will still be friendly and enjoy their food, but then will want to be by themselves and I will leave after 15 minutes compared to my times of up to one and half hours. Things on the streets and the boys are fickle; not because they are dis-associated with the world and feelings around them. It is just because they live in a world that we are not in touch with. Almost tangible but one you would have to put your toe in and sense it. Makes me think of the Matrix with the mercurial matter that Neo had to put his hand into. It was right there in front of him, but he had to take that step of faith to enter it.

So how do we practically do that? My view on this is a simplistic one but I believe one that is so simple that we miss it. We need to love without any hidden agendas. This means: No agenda of trying to get them off the streets, no agenda of trying to get them off glue, no agenda of trying to get them to go to a church meeting, no agenda but to love them. To be with them. To show them that you are meeting with JUST BECAUSE you care. All of the latter things will probably fall into place once we understand the fundamental matter that is this: To help the street kids, to give them an understanding of love, hope, peace...then we can start to talk and address the bigger issues. I fully believe that these wonderful street kids do want change, hope and a purpose outside of the street! But I also fully 100% believe that these kids want what we all want - love. Bringing them food, staying with them afterwards and building relationships. With no agenda.

I feel quite strongly that the kids will not open up and be real and want to change, if all we show them is a hidden purpose behind cutting of the crusts of the cute cucumber and cheese sandwiches. Maybe the kids want the crusts left on!

So this is it really; never ever ever take love out of the equation when helping these street kids. Because true Love has no hidden agenda. Search your hearts - I know you all want these kids loved, clothed, fed, off the streets, staying in a set house, being educated. This is my strongest desire too. For them all. I am definitely not perfect in this area of agendas. But I strive to bring them true love, and I am praying that you in your capacity can do that too. To love them with no hidden agendas. You may be surprised as to what can happen!