Posted by Benjamin on: 07.22.2007 /
I wanted to draw your attention to April’s compelling story “Uncharted Waters” over at Ordinary Attempts. Her honesty about her journey into awareness of the reality of the divide between haves and have nots, and what that means, is compelling. Thank you for inspiring us with your honesty, reality, and compassion, April!
An excerpt:
Yesterday, another man approached me in the parking of my grocery store. He looked distressed, telling me he was hungry and asked if I could give him a few dollars. I told him I was going into the grocery store and would be happy to get him anything he liked. He looked perplexed for at least one second and then said, “Thanks, anyway,” and walked away. To me, this illustrated even further the complexity of the homeless issue. The problem isn’t necessarily hunger. The problem is displacement, loss, loneliness, alcoholism, drug abuse, mental illness, and probably more issues that I haven’t thought of. Those things don’t get cured by a Carl’s Jr. breakfast sandwich or three dollars.
I am starting to learn that I need to think more realistically. I need to start asking someone their name because a name is a person’s identity. I need to start opening myself up and taking a risk, but I will navigate slowly through these uncharted waters. It was a learning experience. I imagine that God has more times like this in store for me in the future.
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