Instead of fellow travelers, I will be seeing my fellow human being as I come to and from my building. If you didn't know, I work for a major telecommunications company *cough* Qwest *cough* who wants you to buy their products to work from anywhere, except if you happen to work for them, then you have to commute downtown to do a job that could be done anywhere. If my company just USED the products they promote.
*SIGH*
My fellow human beings though, are a concern. Not only do I worry about my safety as I walk to and from my building at all hours of day and night, I worry about theirs; sleeping in doorways or bustops. Milling about, digging in garbage cans, pan handling for spare change or scraps of food outside one of many restaurants downtown. Some new faces, some same old sad and desperate ones. I am both repulsed and humbled. It's not up to me to judge how they got there. How thankful I am to have the security of a home to return to. Call me a bleeding heart, but until I take a walk in someone elses shoes, or if they don't have any; down their path, it is not for me to say and my initial response is compassion. I just try to follow that old "golden rule" ethic and live a life of good karma, doing likewise as Jesus taught. If I die in the attempt then I suffer for them no more, for I do believe that I should love my neighbor as I do myself. I know I can be extremely forgiving when it comes to myself, how about others?
Can you?
I have to tell you though, the pain must be intense to try and medicate it in ways that I've witnessed. I can't just handover money because I know many cannot be trusted with such things and I won't facilitate harmful behavior. I can however offer my lunch, or go to a sandwich shop. Stop for a short chat about things, acknowledging one's existence, filling both heart and stomach. I may not be a rich man but I do have enough to "spread around". I don't think I could live the life of the rich and famous knowing that people are barely living on the streets and have no place for refuge.
I will never forget the older man I came across while walking to my building. He was scrounging through some empty fast food bags/wrappers that were left in a sidewalk planter, before he looked up at me as I approached. He first asked me how to get to Capitol Hill, to a food bank. Then he asked me if I had anything to eat because he was very hungry. I bought him a big sub sandwhich of his choosing. I don't say this because I want any kind of accolades for extending a very little bit of myself. I'd like to hand them (accolades) out to those who for some reason, survive to live another day in hell. I'm just doing what I am supposed to do when you see someone in trouble. I would hope for the same if I ever end up in dire straits.
It takes so little to do something about it but is a little overwhelming to be a witness too, hence the thankfulness of having a home and someone who loves me. Life at times has been very overwhelming for me and I shudder at the thought facing it without a home to go to, someone to confide my troubles to and not be treated as a 2nd class citizen.
Great organization that feeds the homeless
Safety, security, love. When it's in abundance for some, it's so easy to overlook.
For others, it's hard to overlook when it's in short supply.
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