Homeless people shelter in brush along the creeks in our suburb. During the day, I occasionally see one or two of these men in a park I often walk through, sitting on secluded benches . I know many of them have addiction issues, either to drugs or alcohol. I find the evidence--empty bottles, cans and homemade bongs-- scattered along the creek. Like most people, I feel frustrated and helpless. I know these people are in pain, but society's efforts to help them are often rejected, and there seem no easy solutions to the problem.
When I happened upon this scene today, I was reminded again that people at the margins of society are struggling with pain. Obviously someone had pulled this abandoned chair to the water's edge, to rest in peace, to drink, to try to numb the pain. In this Lenten season, I hope I react with more compassion towards all, recognizing that we all carry burdens of pain. The only differences between us are the weight of the burdens and the limits of our strength.
No comments:
Post a Comment