Many days I feel like a slacker. I have a blog and have been told I’m awesome at expressing myself in writing (but trying to get me to talk is a ridiculous process). I guess there are times that I’m not sure how to even verbalize all that is going on in my life or in my head. There are so many things I could talk about…maybe this will motivate me to blog somewhat more frequently than once every other month.
Earlier tonight I was on my way to meet a 4th grader in the south Dallas area. She had signed up for a mentorship program, and I happen to be her mentor! Tonight was my first time meeting her. I also met her mother, grandmother and a few of her siblings. I’m sure I will be sharing more about her as time goes on. I would like to share a short story about my way to her house.
For those not familiar with Dallas…it’s massive. Even though it is “one” city, the demographics change within a block or two of each other. South Dallas is an area of town that was once a prime location to live. Now there are condemned homes/apartments right next door to those being lived in. I don’t make it a point to drive into south Dallas too often, especially as evening approaches, but tonight was different. I met up with the staff of Champions of Hope, a mentorship program based in this area, and proceeded to follow them to the house of my mentee.
On my way to this house, there was a man standing on the side of the road. When I first saw him I thought he had been rolling in mud…all I could see was a deep, dark brown. Different thoughts came flooding in, including the thought, “I must be back in Africa.” I knew that he hadn’t been rolling in mud since Texas is still very much in a drought, and it hasn’t rained recently. The State Fair of Texas has been open for a week now. There were many people I passed on the way standing along the streets so my next thought was he was part of the show. And then it hit me. This man was standing on the side of the road…completely naked. And I do mean COMPLETELY. I had to do a double take to confirm what my eyes had just seen. I was surprised and shocked about this situation. I don’t normally see naked people walking around inner-city Dallas (or anywhere for that matter). And right after the shock came a deep, grieving pain from within. To be in a place in your life where standing completely naked on the side of the road in south Dallas…what has this man lived through to be in the position he’s in today? How far do you have to fall until you get to the point of standing naked on the side of a busy road? He looked lost and confused.
I too felt lost and confused about the situation. What do you do in these moments? Jesus calls us to reach out to those around us, serving them in biblical community. Immediately this passage came rushing to mind. Jesus was asked, “When were you naked, hungry or imprisoned? Lord, I didn’t see you there.” His response was simple: “When you see your neighbor in need, naked or hungry, that is me. When you don’t feed them, you aren’t feeding me” (Isabel’s almost 3am paraphrasing). I can’t remember the last time my heart grieved the way it did for this man, exposed for all to see. It’s as if, “I’m finished” came early to him tonight. Was this his bottom? There was a big part of me that wanted to stop and talk, and then the sensible Isabel stepped in and suggested that was not a wise idea…single girl in the middle of south Dallas…I had absolutely nothing to give him. By the time I had come back around, he was gone. I’m not entirely sure what it was I would have done to help him. And I’m pretty sure if I were a guy, I would have been more willing to stop and help. But if he were still there, would I have stopped? Did any one stop or did everyone drive by and laugh? Was he arrested for public indecency (there were lots of cops all over the area) or did he wander off?
So what happens in future situations like this? Will I stop and help or will I keep on driving by, acting like I hadn’t seen the brokenness and devastation in our world today? Or will I stop and live out my life the way God had called me to? What would you do?
