The Forgotten Ones

I know that we see them every day, the men and women who live on the street and keep things going by holding out a hand and asking for our help. I have regulars that I see and so do you. There are a couple of men I see on Geary right in front of the Walgreens at 17^th Ave. They seem to take turns at the spot and seem to make a pretty good go at it.

Every once and awhile I get a hankering for a donut so I make an early morning run. The donut shop is two doors down from the Walgreens. Last week I headed out to get some donuts for the family. The man was there asking for some money in his usual spot. I asked him if he would like a donut, he said sure. I asked him what kind and he said a bagel with cheese (I thought that this was a better choice than a donut). I said, cream cheese and he said yeah. I bought him a bagel with cream cheese and a coffee. I handed to him, he said thanks and I walked over to the car. I started to drive off then I paused and looked up at him. I saw him sit on his piece of cardboard, reach into the bag, pull out his bagel and as his hand shook, bring the bagel to his mouth and take a big bite. It was during this observation that I saw him as a human being, one of God's own precious creations.

We see our neighbors and we forget that they are all part of God's creation. He created all of us in his image and he loves each one of us. Because this man was asking for money, my instinct was to put him in a category that was less than, when he belongs in the category of blessed. He would have been much more comfortable hanging out with the crowd that followed Jesus than I would have been. They would have looked a whole lot more like him than me. Somehow I had forgotten that Jesus made the conscious choice to live amongst the poor, the homeless, the hungry. Jesus did not have a place to lay his head or money or any home.

I do not have the answer to poverty and homelessness, but I do know that I am called to love my neighbor, even when they do not have a permanent address. To love them I need to start by seeing them the way God sees them.

"This day God help me to have your eyes to see all of your creation as beautiful and valuable. Amen"