The Plight of the Lost and Forgotten
In a blog I wrote the other day entitled, Seeing the Invisible; I chronicled my experience of encountering a homeless young man. That was Monday night when it happened…and today is Thursday, and I am still troubled by it.
The imagines keep rolling around in my head. I see that lost young man sitting in that McDonald’s booth blankly starring out the window. I see him sipping that free cup of water, pretending that it would satisfy him; as others ate their dinner.
But, what sticks with me the most was the interaction…or better yet, the lack of any interaction between him and the other people sitting in that McDonald’s. Others in the restaurant seemed to be able to look right through him as if he wasn’t even there. Sadly, somewhere along the line, the young man had learned to not make eye contact either. He kept his head down, or looked away if someone glanced his way. Someone in his life, or worse yet, he had convinced himself that he was unworthy of someone’s respect…that he deserved to be invisible.
We are taught at an early age to look others in the eye…that when we directly look at a person, our eyes can see directly into that person’s soul. What were we taught growing up? Give the other person a firm handshake and look them straight in the eye.
How sad it must be to really become invisible to those around you. Worse yet, how horrible it is to feel that you are not worth even being seen.
Here in Akron, Ohio, where I live; the city gives permits to people who wish to beg on street corners. In New York City, they have hot dog vendors…here in Akron, we have homeless vendors. When it is a nice day, on every major intersection there will be a person sitting or standing there with a cardboard sign in hand. The brief Magic-Marker message will tell their sad story in the hopes of getting you to give them a dollar as you wait for the light. What makes this all legal is that poor person vendor has around his or her neck a nicely laminated vendor’s license.
It’s always the same person at the same intersection. I don’t know if the city sells the rights to a certain corner, or if the homeless have a code amongst themselves not to try to set up shop on a corner that is spoken for.
I have never given a dime to any of these street vendors. Safely tucked inside my car, there is enough distance between them and me, that I don’t see them as a real person. They are just a fixture on the corner, their status being on the same level as the mailbox or street lamp… certainly not a human being.
After my experience the other night at McDonald’s, I may not be able to look past those on the street anymore. I may have to at least look them in the eye. They, at least, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect as a fellow human being. I am going to let my heart guide me on whether I reach into my wallet…but I will not ignore them.
I know that I can’t stop the flood gates of those in need…but I don’t have to look down on anyone. I don’t have to look past them, or through them. I can at least ask God to help and bless them. I can at least pray that others will help and not harm them. What do they say…but by the grace of God go I.
I will end with this…”Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” Mother Teresa
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