Ezer

Psalm 54:4

Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.

I hope I caught your attention with that word ‘ezer’. In Hebrew the word ezer means ‘a help’. Many minor people in the Bible also had the name Ezer, a help. We often name our children with a meaning that will go with them through their lives. This is a great name to have, in that respect.

In our days, however, ezer is much more than a name. It is a lifestyle. If you have a friend who exhibits this ‘ezer’ attribute-keep them! When you have a need that a human can fulfill, you call on your ezer. I had one more piece of large furniture at my mom’s old apartment that no one wanted. What was I going to do with it? Well, I asked the Lord to give me an idea. He did! He brought to my attention that it would make a great piece for the GriefShare room at the church. Great idea, but how do I get it there?? Well, two guys at the church, both ‘exer’s’ came to mind. I texted one of them, he made a plan with the other, and the piece is safely snuggled into the GriefShare room!

They were my ‘ezers’ in my time of need. By the way, it was the last piece of furniture and now the keys can be returned to management!

When I think of this verse, I think of that kind of help. He is the ‘right now remedy’ to your particular need. Right now, in our area, there is a population of people that are mostly forgotten in this crisis time. They really need us to become their ‘ezer’! It is our homeless population. If you are thinking that it would never happen to you, think again. It sometimes only takes a family a couple bad blows and they begin a downward spiral into poverty. If you have never experienced it, God Blessed you to bless someone else!

I have a friend living in an apartment building. A previously homeless person just moved into the building. He has great needs because he has been living on the streets. My friend is trying to rally people in the building to help this gentleman until he can get on his feet again. Just a pillow, some hygiene items and a pair of pants become a reason to believe he can make it!

I have listed a few non-profits in a previous blog that do a fabulous job meeting the need. Maybe you have time now that you are home from work and can help somewhere. Just a couple hours at Keystone Mission on Olive St. in Scranton is a very worth-while way to spend time. There are many opportunities to help there. Of course, they also accept donations. My Mom, husband and I made masks at the beginning of the pandemic we sold them to raise money for Keystone. Money, they used to take in about 25 homeless at Weston Field. That is a help to them-and us! As a result, they need additional meals provided. Meals must be cooked at home and dropped off like a caterer, for about 40 people (staff eat there too). By the way, staff stays with the homeless housed at Weston. They are on the front lines too…did you hear anything about them?

I believe we can forget there is a homeless population in our area. Everyone we know is housed and fed. My hubby and I watched a movie that depicted a homeless woman’s struggle. The star was Lucille Ball! It was the only serious role she ever did, and she was 74 when she did it. The movie is, ‘Stone Pillow’. I recommend it highly. You Tube…please make some time to watch it!

She does a great job showing us what really happens on the streets after dark, when we get all snuggy cozy in our homes with our snack and fav program. They are fighting rats for a piece of garbage to eat, looking for a secluded cold staircase to sleep on, and still guard all their earthly belongs from thieves.

After volunteering at Keystone for a couple years, before my accident, I can tell you though it will take some time for the people to warm up to you, (remember how they have been shunned), once they do, it is a very rewarding experience to get to be an ‘ezer’ to someone often trying to come out of their pit!

Sometimes I remember my homeless friends on the street. Jesus said ‘just a cup of water given in my name’, is like giving it to Him!

Can you be someone’s ‘ezer’ today?

Question; If you were in need, what would you want someone to do for you? Do it for someone else!