They Are People
With the sun barely peeking over the tops of buildings, the city streets were already bustling with traffic of every kind. Buses, cars, bikes, street cars, trains, trucks, delivery trucks- all racing around trying to make the most of every minute of the day. The barrage of people walking the streets and sidewalks moved like a river with strong currents. A person wasn't an individual anymore, they were just one more current in the river, one more wave in the ocean; not recognized by their humanity. This was okay by them. They didn't need to be recognized. They simply needed to move on down the river and get on with their lives.
No one else mattered. Every person seemingly was preoccupied with something, be it a cell phone, a newspaper, driving, a coffee, a child in a stroller, their watch or minding the oncoming traffic. Everyone was in their own little world. Every morning, every day, every moment passed by like this.
I too was in this world, this state of mind, until I stopped to "smell the roses" at a local café on this very morning. A crisp Autumn air filled my lungs as I pulled my jacket tighter around me. I sipped my chai latté and took in my surroundings. I had taken the day off and decided not to spend it checking emails, keeping track of the office and filing paperwork. I was going to relax. I was going to watch the day roll by like a sweet Summer sunset. That was the plan.
Everything changed when I noticed him. Upon viewing some lovely roses planted in a nearby street trough, I noticed an unlovely creature. My immediate reaction was to recoil and even sneer. Sitting on the opposite side of that stone rose trough was a raggedy, filthy man shoving his face into the pathetic excuse for a coat that he wore. I turned my gaze from him quickly and tried to take in the beautiful local scenery once again.
Try as I might to bring my thoughts to the breathtaking, sparkling water fountain across the street, the little girl smiling at her mother, or even the café's ornate display of pastries, my mind was fixed on him. This realization angered me. What was so special about him? He was not helping me "stop and smell the roses" in any form. He was detracting from it. His battered appearance and disheveled attire made the roses seem wilted and less brilliant.
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Taking a long swig of chai, I heard something inside me. I was familiar with this voice. It was one I had not recently interacted with, but I knew it just the same.
"My child, is he not more valuable than the roses you so admire?" He spoke gently to me, but it sent chills down my spine. He was right. Shame covered my face. I had devalued a living human being. I had seen him as an object to be disgusted with. I saw him like revolting trash on the side of the road, rather than the beautiful creation that God had made of him.
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"I haven't been smelling roses, I've been stepping all over them. The roses are Your people and You are asking me to love them." I murmured to Him. A warmth spread over me as I opened my heart to allow myself to love the man lying on the street.
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I whispered a prayer for courage and wisdom and began to approach him. As I did, a well-dressed businessman passed in front of me briskly and I watched as he tripped over the homeless man. Regaining his footing, he kicked the man's legs and yelled for him to get out of the way. I raced to his side and grabbed his arm. Pulling him down to the homeless man's level, I said, "Don't you see? He is human too. He has feelings and experiences pain." The businessman's face was cross and he refused to succumb. " Alright, sorry." He spit at the man as he wiggled free from my grip. He grabbed change from his pocket, threw it in the man's cup and walked away without a word.
I sat down next to him and asked if he was okay. I was shocked as I looked into his face. He had a kind, weather-worn face, but I could tell that he wasn't much older than me and maybe even once had a steady job and permanent home like me. He smiled at me and thanked me for my concern. He began to tell me his story, I adjusted to sit comfortably and listen. God had changed not only my plans, but my heart too. He was calling me to stop and smell the roses. They are people and they are all around us.