One of the Scriptures that always speaks to me is Matthew 25:31-46. In this passage, it is said that at the appointed time God/Jesus will sit upon the throne and sort people based on how they treated “the least of these” or as The Message says “someone overlooked or ignored.” I think this passage strikes me because it is so counter intuitive based on what the American way teaches. Instead of relying on everyone to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps,” we are instructed to nourish, house, clothe and visit those who society overlooks and ignores. Annie Vocature Bullock discusses this very issue in her book Real Austin: The Homeless and the Image of God.  When writing this book, Annie reflects on her family’s decision to live in an area of town where Austin Weird is personafied. Part of that decision dictates that the family uses public transportation. It’s during these travels on the town bus system that Annie is confronted with the reality of the homeless. Idealogically she desires a relationship with the people that she encounters, but reality causes her to fear them and her own reaction to them. Annie reflects on her spiritual growth as a Christian that has led her to this place and the challenge of living out her faith amongst the “least of these.” Her struggle is honest and specific. She realizes that her childhood experiences make this struggle even more difficult. Having lived with a loved one who has a mental illness, she understands the erratic life that is a result. As I usually do with these types of books, I found myself longing for more of her personal e