The man sat quietly with his forearms on his knees, staring past us, through us, beyond us. I could see an apparent lack of interest in his eyes as yet another group of christians handed out another meal to his homeless companions under his bridge. I’m sure he’d seen it a million times. He knew we’d be gone soon, with our questions about Katrina’s effect on his life and our offers of prayer. Soon enough there would be new faces with new conversations about the same old storm, and new believers earnestly petitioning God on his behalf. Yes, I’m sure he’d heard it all a million times and expected a million more to come.
I silently wondered what would bring a man to live this way. Sleeping on hard concrete underneath an interstate over-pass, with all his earthly possessions lying beside him in two 20 gallon trash bags. Most people wouldn’t take those two bags if they were paid to, and yet these men held them as their own treasures. I hope this encounter with poverty will inspire the students that have accompanied us to pursue a life far better than this.
An attempt at a conversation with the jaded man fell short. He seems reluctant to give more than a one word answer to anything I say. I figure I’ll sit with him for a while and at the very least, provide some companionship while I’m there. But I can’t stop thinking about his tired, lifeless eyes.
Across the street, a group of homeless men and women sat out under a group of trees that provide a little shade in the sweltering New Orleans heat. They were either unaware that we were there to give them food, or they didnt want any because they never came over to the table we set up. I decided to walk over with another intern and take the meal to them.
We didnt expect any engaging conversation so we gave them the food and turned to walk away with a smile and a “God bless you”. As we began walking away though a mans voice called to us. He introduced himself to us as Ron and it became clear that this man had a strong faith in God. “I know God will make a way out of this, he always makes a way”, the man said with passion and conviction. I was stunned to see this man in terrible circumstances praising God and His Faithfulness. The man’s eyes lit up as he shared how the Lord was bringing him to healing and victory through these hard times, and the fire in his heart was contagious.
Now I’ve heard it said that the eyes are a gateway into a mans soul. Today I came to believe that in a new way. I was blown away to realize that two men, both in the same circumstances, both living out their days under a bridge, could have such different perspectives on life. One had no desire to even talk. No desire to engage. No life in his eyes. And the other… well… he had hope.
At the end of the day, that is what Christ is to our dying world. Hope. Thank you Jesus, for being our hope.
Ephesians 5:14 “This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.'”
