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This morning, just after 5:45, I was strolling through the streets of downtown with an elderly, out-of-shape homeless man. He’s a good, thoughtful man who’s fallen on hard times but is committed to getting his life back on track.

Did I mention he’s debilitatingly overweight? A few weeks ago he couldn’t walk down the hall without feeling winded. This morning he walked at least a mile with me. 

After making much discussion about nothing, he mentioned that he had thought long and hard about “going into the ministry.” I pressed him with “why” and the short conversation we’ve had has quite literally shaped almost every conversation I’ve had today.

“Because my people have lost their way.” 

As he unraveled the web of thoughts in his head that I could tell he didn’t need to think long and hard to access, it became apparent that he was referring to the plight of the African American community in Dallas.

I, however, thought his words were applicable to all people in all times in all cultures.

“My people have lost their way.”

When I asked him further what he meant by that, his answer became more telling and poignant.

“The kids don’t want anything.” 

He could have elaborated more; indeed, he did. But he didn’t need to.

I knew exactly what he meant.

What happens to a community when its children don’t want anything out of life?
What happens when they don’t dream about a better world?
What happens when people are so busy texting and surfing the web and seeking their fifteen minutes of fame that people stop helping people?

We lose our way when we stop wanting something great out of life. When all we desire is petty and self-serving.

You see, whether we intentionally acknowledge it or not, our decisions and actions shape our future. They paint a vivid picture of what we desire. What we want out of life.

What do you want out of life? What’s the vision of the (your) world that drives you to get up in the morning? Is it small and petty? Or grand and in need of God if it will ever work?

And when our time is up, will we leave a world which is more God-oriented because of our time here? Or will it simply reflect the passing of another soul that “got his (or hers)” while they could? 

A struggling homeless man, sweaty and tired, spoke of a life that pointed others to something bigger.

We should all aspire to such things.