new york

This is not a story of adventure, this is not a story of holiday cheer, this is not a story of all the sights and wonders of a city. This is simple story of humbleness, of sincere grief, and of compassion.

Today I went to new york for a few hours with the director, sometimes he goes there just to find a homeless person and give them a meal, a new testament, and just some company for a while. I regret to admit that my first selfish thought that lingered in the back of my mind was, "how generous we are, to go and give our time and money to someone in need" I tried to push the thought down as much as possible, but the true experience I had demolished it completely. we walked for quite a while looking for a homeless person on the side of the road, they were very far and few in between (probably due to the freezing weather and windy conditions). we found one, Ralph asked if he needed a meal, he came up with some excuse that I only heard pieces of, true or not, he wasn't interested. we walked quite a ways further, and came upon another man, sitting outside an old catholic church, with a sign that read: "lost apartment, job and family... please help". We were obviously skeptical at first about the truth of the sign, but ralph offered to buy him a meal anyways and he simply stared and said "sure". we walked to a restaurant and on the way He told some of his story, which I heard very little of because of the city ambience. on the way he stopped to pick up 3 pennies that were on the sidewalk. Once at the restaurant, ralph asked alot of questions, mostly things like "where are you from, what was your job, how long have you been here?" He explained how he used to work on a fishing boat, he has been doing it his whole life, but they decided to use his boat during a storm and it got damaged or something, he was laid off. when he was asked about his family he was obviously fighting back tears. I said very little, mostly listening, but asked probably the stupidest question I could've, "so where do you stay in the city?". I suppose in my civilized, americanized and ignorant subconscious, I pictured a homeless shelter on every corner or some old abandoned house where all the homeless could go for shelter. his answer was simple, and yet shocking, "nowhere" he said. I had never thought of the prospect of having absolutely nowhere to go. We talked a little more, after he finished eating, ralph gave him a new testament and some gift cards, he thanked us and we parted ways.

It was only when In christmas eve service however that it really hit me, here was this man: homeless, alone and on the streets in the cold. He wasn't begging, he wasn't even holding out a cup. he simply sat there with his head down, hopeless...utterly hopeless. and as I was standing in that warm, festive church service singing songs of joy, surrounded by people that would gladly shake my hand and simply talk with me...he was out in the cold, probably just sitting like he was, invisible to the eye of everyone else and void of friends or family. At that moment I felt the deepest compassion for this man, I felt his pain, his loneliness, his sorrow. when we are wondering whats underneath the tree this christmas, he is wondering how he will get his next meal, and how he will stay warm enough through winter. please pray for this man, his name was Don. pray that he reads that new testament, pray that his needs are met, pray that he comes to know the Lord if he doesn't.

and one last thing, be grateful for what you have. If you ever find yourself complaining, remember don.