Path of Grace

I am a total people watcher. (probably not the best way to open a blog post)

I like sitting back and watching people do their thing but as of late, the more I watch people, the more I dislike most of them – then I remind myself that that is not who I want to be. I don’t want to emulate those ugly characteristics of hate and lofty expectations.

That thought was quickly followed by the reminder that we’re meant to be fashioned after Jesus Christ, not other people or ideals.

A few nights ago I was walking through the rush hour of London, on my way to meet friends for dinner. Victoria is one of those areas in London that has a lot of homeless people, with a lot of people that seem to like to hate on them or dismiss them.

I walked passed one gentleman that had a sign which read: Sorry to Offend. God bless. I got as far as maybe 25 yards before I had to turn around, get some cash at the ATM and backtrack to this solemn man.

My curiosity and remorse were peaking and I had to ask – why, of all things to write down, is he apologising for being an offence?

I had already formed part of his response in my head – at Church, we have a social justice programme called Green Light and the initiative is a team of people and two vans equipped with basic medical facilities, travel in the evenings to key areas in London, offering basic, non-invasive medical services to the homeless population.

I had been part of the outreach team for this project a few years ago and I had been aware that one of the homeless shelters had been shut down since, and the local residents have made numerous complaints to the council with regards to the homeless people “damaging the image of their community”.

So in my head, I already expect him to tell me how the police move them on on a regular basis and that people ignore him day in and day out. That’s not the response I received and I felt incredibly naive and dirty.

This gentleman, very calm and polite, explained to me that he’s been in instances when he’s been a victim of verbal and physical abuse. His only current way method of support is begging but he has to now compete with people that are pretending to be homeless – or are using/exploiting others to beg on the street.

These were things that I had been aware of – theoretically. Yes, sure it happens, but because it doesn’t happen to me, my friends, families, community or neighbours, it doesn’t really make any sense.

It broke my heart how inactive I am as part of the solution that can be provided for this problem that should be affecting all of us. That man is our neighbour, relative, friend, colleague, fellow human being. He is not our enemy or our punchbag when we’re having a bad day.

As of right now, I don’t know how I will become a solution to the everyday problems we are faced within our society, nationally and internationally, but I am going to flip this blog on its head and finish here with how I started.

I am a total people watcher.

I like sitting back and watching people do their thing but I am determined now, more than ever, to love on these people despite their (our) imperfections.